Obama hot choice at Democrats' annual Labor Day picnic
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By Dustin Lemmon | Monday, September 01, 2008 |
HAMPTON, Ill. — With only two months to go before the Nov. 4 election, Stephanie Hernandez of Silvis says she’s going to vote for Barack Obama because he makes her feel like she has the power to make positive changes.
Not surprisingly, she was not the only one at Monday’s Democratic Party Salute to Labor picnic eager to see Obama take office.
“He’s very empowering,” she said. “He’s empowering people to have a voice and have it be heard.”
Rock Island County State’s Attorney Jeff Terronez was among those attending the annual event at Illiniwek Forest Preserve outside Hampton who was eager to see an Obama victory.
“The excitement is building for Sen. Obama’s candidacy,” Terronez said. “There is a buzz going around that in a few months the dream will be a reality.”
Richard Rowe of Rock Island hopes electing a Democrat as president would help the economy.
“The conservatives have had a chance to implement their vision for the country, and this is where it is,” Rowe said.
Annamaria Bernadino, who was visiting from Washington D.C., wants a president who will improve the economy with more and better jobs.
“The most important thing any administration can do is bring the jobs back to the country, back to the U.S.,” she said.
Courtland Pieper of Port Byron doesn’t expect Republican candidate John McCain would bring much change to the presidency.
“I think we need a change in government and the direction we’re going,” he said. “Our national debt is skyrocketing out of sight.”
While she supports Obama, Lucy Terronez of Silvis said she would like to hear more from him on some issues.
“I’d like to see him be more specific about what he’s going to do about immigration,” she said.
Marian Sands of Hampton didn’t pick a favorite, but encouraged her fellow citizens to make their vote count.
“If they don’t vote they’ve got no reason to complain with whomever gets in,” she said.
For those who haven’t decided whom to vote for, Frank Hepton Sr. of Blue Grass, Iowa, said they should read and pay attention to everything they can. He already has decided not to vote for McCain.
“We don’t need four more years of McCain (and a Republican president),” Hepton said. “We need to take care of things at home and get out of debt.”
Several people attending the picnic also commented about John Gianulis’ retirement as Rock Island County Democratic Party chairman earlier this year. Rock Island County Treasurer LuAnn Kerr since has taken the position.
“You can’t have a Labor Day picnic without John Gianulis being a part of it,” Terronez said. “It’s time we recognize his leadership. There will be no other leader like John Gianulis.”
Pieper thought the former chairman’s health was a factor in his retirement.
“I think it was time for him to do it,” Pieper said.
Rowe said he doesn’t know Gianulis personally, but he is impressed with the party’s success in Rock Island County.
“I think he has done a great job of organizing the party,” Rowe said.
Lucy Terronez said that although she hasn’t always voted Democrat, she has appreciated Gianulis’ leadership for the Democratic party. At 72, she has been involved with the party since she was old enough to vote.
“I wish him a long and healthy retirement,” she said. “When I first started getting involved, he was the one you always looked to” for leadership.
Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.
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