Unlike this hand count at a Democratic caucus in Iowa, voting will be done electronically at the Democratic delegate nominating meeting Sunday at the Sanford Performing Arts Center. Photo: Ellen McDonald via Creative Commons
By Lee Burnett
It could be standing room only at Sanford Performing Arts Center on Sunday when Democrats from across York County gather to take the first step toward anointing a new senate candidate to take on Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.
The York County delegate nominating meeting will choose 84 delegates to represent the county at the state convention in Bangor on July 25. The 600-member convention was called on short notice to elect a candidate to replace Graham Platner, who resigned in the face of rape allegations last week, just a month after winning the June 9 primary with the highest vote total ever.
Convention delegates are apportioned by county according to population.
Party activist Rachel Sherman of Springvale said she is excited to attend, although she is also feeling stressed.
“There could be high emotions,” she said. Sherman, a Troy Jackson supporter, said she will be helping get people checked in, a role she was assigned because “I tend to be calm … and unflappable.”
Interest seems to be running high, with more than 300 people registered to be one of the 84 York County delegates as of Wednesday, according to Zendelle Bouchard, chair of the Sanford Democratic Committee. Bouchard said she expects a full house at the Performing Arts Center, which has 864 seats. More people may register, as candidates are working feverishly to get their supporters to be delegates. Any registered Democrat in the county may participate in electing delegates.
Bouchard said she senses a feeling of unity, although “there are a lot of people online trying to stir up division.”
The meeting will not feature the usual speeches, according to Bouchard. Candidates and their surrogates will be relegated to the lobby area. People in the running to be delegates will make their case in 250-word written statements that will be distributed ahead of time. Voting will be done electronically using Election Buddy online. The Maine Democratic Party will staff the meeting to help folks access the system on their phones.
Bouchard promises the affair will not be silent. “There will be an explanation of the process,” she said.
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