The Associated Press and Peninsula Daily News
PHILADELPHIA — Thursday was the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, and the focus was on presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Clinton discussed how to boost the economy, improve national security and unite a divided nation. She aimed to strike a stark contrast with Republican nominee Donald Trump.
Washington state’s Yvette Joseph, a Clinton supporter from Spokane, said the Sanders delegates who dominate the Washington delegation appear to be coming around to supporting Clinton.
Meanwhile, Washington state delegate Jim CastroLang, a Sanders supporter, said President Barack Obama’s speech Wednesday night showed why the president is so popular.
The breakfast speakers for the Washington delegation Thursday were Michael Dukakis, who ran for president in 1988, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
NOP delegate
Julie Johnson, 74, of Neah Bay is one of the delegates elected to the convention from the North Olympic Peninsula. She came to the convention as the only Clinton supporter of the group.
“I went to the convention in 2008 in Denver. There are a lot more younger people here, and they are real passionate about Bernie,” she said Thursday.
She said some Sanders supporters thought they could change the allocation of delegate votes, “and that didn’t happen and that was kind of sad for them.”
Johnson, however, is “really, really pleased” not only with Clinton’s nomination but also with the showing of Native Americans at the convention.
“In 2008, we only had five members of the Native American caucus,” said Johnson, who lives on the Makah reservation.
“Today in 2016, we had 10 people elected as delegates around the state and one elected a couple of years ago who is on the executive committee.
“That’s 11 elected from the state of Washington.
“That’s historic.”
She mentioned Charles Adkins, 18, who is the vice chair of the Washington State High School Democratic Party. He is a member of the Yurok tribe and lives in the Everett area.
Also, she talked of Leonard Forsman, chairman of the Suquamish tribe, who is serving on the Rules Committee with Linda Sutton of Port Townsend; and Matt Tomaskin from Yakima, who is on the Credentials Committee.
Rion Ramirez of the Turtle Mountain Chippewa is serving on the Democratic National Committee.
“We have some really exciting, highly competent Native Americans on the national Democratic committee and representing Washington state,” Johnson said.
Johnson was pleased that Sanders came to the Washington state breakfast meeting Wednesday “and encouraged everyone to support Hillary.”
“What we need to do now is get our local people out to vote and get everyone out to vote to participate in this process,” Johnson said.
