Cape delegates amid convention 'chaos'

The Democratic National Convention, which kicks off Monday, has become a love-hate affair for Bostonians, says Kerry delegate and 2004 Jackson High School graduate Nate Hinchey.

"People are incredibly excited about the DNC coming or they are up in arms about it," said Hinchey, who at 18 is the youngest Missouri delegate at the convention.

A pizza shop near the convention site has been forced to close for the duration of the event for security reasons, Hinchey said. The pizza place has hung up a "Go Bush" sign in protest.

"It is utter chaos here," he said Friday afternoon from Boston. "They are shutting down main thoroughfares."

The Boston Herald newspaper is soliciting survival tips from locals on how they plan to make it through to Thursday with the crunch of 4,353 delegates and the cast of characters that follows them.

Hinchey is one of two Cape Girardeau County residents in the Missouri delegation to the Democratic convention. The other is Brenda Woemmel, 59, of Cape Girardeau. She teaches social studies at Central Junior High School.

Woemmel is an alternate delegate for John Edwards. As a result, she won't get to vote at the party's nominating convention unless one of the regular Edwards' delegates drops out. There are several alternates, further lessening the chance she would get to actually cast a vote.

Hinchey has been in the Boston area for the past week, visiting relatives. His father lives on Cape Cod, two hours south of Boston. Hinchey is staying with his brother's girlfriend who lives across the street from the Fleet Center where the convention will be held.

"It is very convenient, plus I don't have to pay $250 a night," he said.

Hinchey said he's excited about the convention. He's making plans to attend as many of the convention parties and events as possible. "There's something going on every hour," he said.

"I am going to be running around the city. It is just going to be non-stop," he said. "I have four days to hobnob with the elite of the Democratic party."

Hinchey, who plans to major in political science at Boston College, said he isn't attending the convention just to "kick back and relax."

"This is a once-in-four-years kind of opportunity," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123