The Saturday session started late; someone made the comment that the party was like ‘herding cats’. Richard Stallings started the session, and thanked the Bonneville County Democrats for a great picnic the night before.
There was a one-hour discussion panel on community colleges, and another one-hour discussion panel on the minimum wage. Lunch broke for an hour and a half, and then a grueling four-hour session took place where everyone debated big and small issues regarding the Democrats’ platform.
I interviewed Jerry Shively and Richard Stallings, and wanted to interview Jana Jones and Jerry Brady since I spoke with their opponents the week before. I asked Chuck Oxley where they might be, but he could not find them either. A few minutes later, though, he introduced me to Yvonne McCoy, a really neat lady who worked for the Brady campaign. I complimented her on her stylish designer glasses (Yvonne, you’ve got to tell me who makes those?)
She asked what questions I wanted to ask Jerry. I picked some out, and she wrote them down. Awhile later, I bumped into Yvonne again, and she handed me her cell phone. Jerry’s campaign manager communications director, Mike Aimes Ames was on it, and told me unfortunately Jerry could not answer those questions that day.
Mike explained Jerry would be finalizing his positions and plans on many of those questions the following week(s), but Jerry could that day answer some of the general questions I had been asking the other candidates. I said I would rather respect Jerry’s time and just wait until he could answer my original questions, which Mike said would be in a week or two. I felt that I had a meaty conversation with Butch Otter, and didn’t want a softball session with Jerry Brady.
Do I hear the sound of Democrat’s groaning? It was disappointing because Butch Otter talked to me with no preparations, responding to all of my questions without hesitation. I can appreciate Jerry is fighting an uphill battle, though, and is watching his steps. Hopefully he follows up with me and I can publish a good interview as soon as possible.
I never got to meet Jana Jones. I was told she would be giving a speech that evening at a banquet. Chuck said it was fine for me to attend, but I felt odd about it, so it’s my fault I didn’t get to interview her.
UPDATE: Mike Ames (I had misspelled his name and gotten his position wrong-my bad!) called me early Monday evening, just two days after convention. He offered me an opportunity to interview Jerry Brady by phone as soon as tomorrow. I preferred to shake his hand and look him in the eye like with Butch Otter, there’s just something different when you physically meet someone. They scheduled a time for me early next week to meet him in Idaho Falls.
I must apologize for the two errors I made about Mike Ames name spelling and job, I did not clarify it when we first spoke. I’m glad they got back with me so quickly on that.
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Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
:@:)
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