Scott City lawyer attends Democratic convention

It isn’t every day an ordinary citizen gets to sit just a few feet from a top presidential contender, but Rebecca Reed isn’t all that ordinary.

Reed, a lawyer at the law firm of Siebert & Reed in Scott City, is attending the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia as a pledged Hillary Clinton delegate and has been brushing elbows with political luminaries from all over the country.

That means she was elected to serve as a national delegate for the 8th Congressional District of Missouri.

“At the district meeting back in April, people seeking to serve as national delegates were asked to give a short, two-minute speech,” Reed wrote in an email. “Following the speeches, the delegates in attendance (who were elected at the county caucus meetings) voted to send one male and one female delegate for Clinton and three Sanders delegates. I was the lucky woman delegate voted to represent our district for Secretary (of State) Clinton.”

So far, Reed said, the convention has been a great, noisy, bustling experience, offering an opportunity to meet fellow Missouri Democrats such as U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and to hear firsthand messages from U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill.

“This morning, Sen. (Bernie) Sanders even dropped in to speak with us, thank the delegation for its support and remind everyone that the most important thing is to elect representation that will address the issues of the middle class — which is most certainly not Donald Trump,” Reed said. “(Sanders) also made the point that Republicans don’t win big; it’s the Democrats who lose when they fail to turn out to vote.”

Of Sanders, Reed said the U.S. senator and presidential hopeful from Vermont who pledged his support of Clinton during his speech Monday has been doing his part to unify the party during the convention.

On Monday, the convention’s opening day, Reed saw speeches from Sanders, first lady Michelle Obama, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey.

“In my opinion, Michelle Obama gave the best address of the evening, bringing a tear to nearly every eye,” Reed said. “The message was positive and focused on the example we will set for our children and future generations with this election. As a young mother, I found it very powerful and deeply moving.”

Although talk of protesters caused static in national news circles, Reed dismissed any claims of them being disruptive.

“Rather, they have added to the spirit of the festivities and issues, reminding us as they chant that, ‘This is what democracy looks like,’” she said.

The convention continues through Thursday.

ljones@semissourian.com

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