Teen becomes Democratic National Convention delegate

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Just for the fun of it, Nate Hinchey and about two dozen of his Jackson High School classmates decided to get involved at the local level in the process of selecting the next Democratic presidential nominee.

As a result, Hinchey, an 18-year-old senior, will be one of Missouri's 88 delegates attending the Democratic National Convention in Boston to formally nominate U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts as the party's candidate for president.

"I'm just shocked I've gotten this far," Hinchey said. "I'm still in a daze that I'm going to Boston and going to the Democratic National Convention."

Hinchey and his friends packed last month's Cape Girardeau County Democratic caucus after learning it was the first stage in choosing the delegates for Boston.

How the system works"We were interested in just going out and seeing how the system works," Hinchey said.

With the strength of numbers, Hinchey and four other Jackson students -- Emma Evans, Wesley Smith, Kevin Keith and Brandy Liebknecht -- were chosen as delegates or alternates to the subsequent 8th Congressional District convention, where Hinchey was elected as one of the district's national delegates.

With few other teenagers present, Hinchey said he and his friends turned some heads among older Democrats.

"A lot of people were surprised that we came out," Hinchey said.

Although she won't be going to Boston, Evans joined Hinchey as a delegate to Saturday's state Democratic convention in Columbia.

Evans, who is also a senior, said she originally got involved just to support Hinchey's efforts but has enjoyed the process.

"You learn a lot about what actually goes on," Evans said. "You learn a lot about your community."

Paul Allee of Jackson, a retiree who was also a state delegate, beamed with pride that students from his hometown cared enough about their community to become politically active. Allee, who unsuccessfully sought one of the at-large delegate spots decided in Columbia, said Hinchey's age helped him win a ticket to the national convention.

"I think it was an advantage because we are trying to encourage young people to get out" and participate, Allee said.

Hinchey's trip to Boston in July will provide him with a preview of the city where he will be living for the next few years. Hinchey has been accepted to Boston College, where he is considering pursuing a degree in political science.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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