Field Report from the Barack Obama delegate caucus for Congressional District 28, April 13th, at the North Hollywood Community Center.
Erikson Albrecht, left, who went on to win delegate spot, outside the caucus. At right, candidate Anne Johnson with supporter, actress Pauley Perrette from Navy CIS.
353 registered voters braved 100 degrees temps at the Delegate Caucus yesterday to decide which two of 33 candidates to send to Denver in August to help represent Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention.
As constituents arrived, candidates and friends were on hand to appeal for their vote. Unlike a traditional election, campaigning took place even inside, just feet away from the ballot box. Some even took advantage of the scores of people playing in nearby parks, advising them of the caucus and successfully bringing them over to vote.
Candidates shrugged off questions and indicated no hard feelings about the debacle earlier in the week when all but a handful of candidates were “disqualified” for less than 48 hours, then requalified to caucus by the Obama campaign.
Inside, voters were able to select two candidates, although the two delegate spots would be given to one man and one woman.
While most votes were cast by 3pm, at 3:15 candidated were permitted to each give a 30 second speech. Many used the time to assure the audience that they wouldn’t switch their vote to Hillary Clinton at the convention
Estee Chandler won the woman’s delegate spot with 77 votes (Anne B. Johnson had 71, and Pamela Broadous 63). Erikson R. Albrecht won the men’s spot hands down with 106 votes, trailed closest by Michael Jay with 62 votes.
I was told in case of a tie delegates would be decided with a coin toss. In fact, over in Council District 31, Yosi Sargent told me he lost to the flip of a coin: “No joke… 61 votes to 61 votes. He (an opponent) picked heads… He is going to Denver…”
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