Albany area delegates gearing up for national conventions

ALBANY — Andrew Niquette is just 19 years old, but later this month he will travel to Philadelphia as Georgia’s youngest delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

“It’s been a very intense last few weeks,” Niquette, a recent graduate of Westover High School, said. “I didn’t start campaigning for the spot until shortly before the state party finalized its list of delegates. When I was elected, I went ‘Wow, now things are going to start getting real.’”

And what does Niquette expect to see in Philadelphia during the July 25-29 convention?

“There is a lot of speculation, but the consensus seem to think it will be a crazy convention,” he said. “I’ve heard it could the most-watched Democratic convention in recent memory. I expect to see a lot of craziness on the floor and a lot of protests outside.”

Goergia Democrats will have 117 delegates and nine alternates at the convention. The state will send 79 delegates pledged to presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton and 32 pledged to Bernie Sanders. There are 15 unpledged (super) delegates consisting of DNC members. Niquette is pledged to support Bernie Sanders.

Niquette might be young, but he says he’s seen enough from both delegations to notice the difference between the two.

“The biggest difference is that the Sanders delegation has a lot of young people from average families, and they have more energy than the Clinton delegation,” Niquette said. “Hillary’s delegation is more like the current Democratic establishment. They are more laid back and relaxed than us.”

Also making the trip to Philadelphia is delegate Jewell Howard of Baconton.

The Georgia GOP wrapped up its list of Delegates early last month. State Republicans will send 76 delegates and 73 alternates to Cleveland the week of July 18-21

Lee County state Rep. Ed Rynders was elected as an at-large delegate and will be making his fourth trip to the GOP convention.

Despite a sometimes rancorous primary process that bruised feelings and raised eyebrows within the party, Rynders said he expects the Cleveland delegates to rally around the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

“I think what we can expect to see at the convention is a unified front around our nominee, which will offer a sharp contrast between the Republicans and Democrats,” Rynders said. “I also expect we will hear quite a bit about the presumptive Democratic nominee (Hillary Clinton) not being trustworthy.”

Most of the activity could be outside the arena, where presumptive GOP nominee Trump has been a lightning rod for protests.

“Every convention I have attended has had protests outside of the building,” Rynders said. “Do I expect to see more in Cleveland? I’m not sure. Do I expect the media to focus on what’s going on outside? Most definitely. In the past, I know delegate buses have had cinder blocks dropped on them from overpasses, so security is always an issue.”

Joining Rynders in Cleveland will be Alec Poitevint of Decatur County, Brandon Phillips of Grady County and Joseph Brannan of Muscogee County.