PORT ANGELES — Two Clallam County women have been chosen to represent the 6th Congressional District at the Democratic National Convention in July.
Jessica Hernandez of Port Angeles will be a Bernie Sanders delegate.
Julie Johnson of Neah Bay will be a Hillary Clinton delegate at the July 25-28 convention in Philadelphia, Clallam County Democrats said.
Hernandez and Johnson were elected May 21 at the 6th Congressional District Democratic caucus in Suquamish.
They were among the three North Olympic Peninsula residents elected to go to the national convention.
Jeff Engels of Port Townsend was elected as a Sanders delegate.
They were chosen by delegates representing Democratic precinct caucuses in Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Grays Harbor and Pierce counties, officials said.
The 6th District covers the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas and most of Tacoma.
No delegates from Clallam or Jefferson counties were chosen at the state Republican Convention in Pasco on May 20-21 to go the national convention in Cleveland on July 18-21.
Hernandez is the executive director of the Port Angeles Food Bank, the president of the Port Angeles Rotary, vice president of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce and a former small-business owner.
She will represent those who cast votes for Sanders across the Olympic and Kitsap peninsulas.
At the food bank, Hernandez works closely with the vulnerable and is an advocate for the underrepresented and those who have fallen on hard times because of the current economy, Clallam County Democrats said.
“I am very excited to go to Philadelphia for the National Democratic Convention to represent our county, region and its residents and their struggles,” Hernandez said in a news release.
Hernandez was on vacation Friday and could not be reached for further comment.
Johnson
Johnson, a social and health grant writer and intergovernmental relations consultant, is one of two Clinton delegates and the only female Clinton delegate in the district, Clallam County Democrats said.
She is a two-term state Democratic Committee woman serving on the central committee of the state Democratic Party.
Johnson was named by local Democrats as the female Democrat of the Year in 2012 and received a National Indian Women’s Leadership Award in 2013 from Women Empowering Women for Indian Nations, local party officials said.
In addition to capturing the Clinton delegate position, Johnson was also tabbed as the presidential elector at the 6th District caucus. Only one presidential elector is chosen from each congressional district.
“I’m humbled to be voted as the electoral college representative for the 6th District by delegates representing both Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Senator/Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,” Johnson said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant contributed to this report.
