Peekskill Councilman Inspired at Dem Convention
The national political conventions are intended to fire up delegates to get the vote out, and the Democrats didn’t disappoint, according to Peekskill Councilman Darren Rigger, who took in all the sights and sounds for five days in North Carolina last week.
Rigger is not a delegate but was able to attend all the festivities through various connections as a political consultant, fundraiser and state committee Assembly person.
“It was hot and sweaty but really exciting. There was a lot of energy,” a weary Rigger said after getting an average of three hours a sleep nightly. “It really kind of arms these tens of thousands of people to flood their communities with information and speak out on behalf of the president.”
Rigger has been attending Democratic national conventions since 1992 when Bill Clinton was nominated in 1992 in New York. Speaking of Clinton, Rigger had a birds-eye view of Clinton’s well received nomination speech for President Barack Obama.
“It was an amazing speech. The people were enraptured,” said Rigger, who noted the New York delegation was in the nose bleed section. “He is like a rock star. They hung on every word he said. He just hit the ball out of the park. He was doing events all over Charlotte. He’s very hands-on.”
When Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama delivered their speeches, Rigger was forced to watch from the lobby since too many tickets were handed out for the seats available. However, he said it was impossible not to get caught up in the atmosphere.
“We just happen to have in the Democratic Party very talented speakers. President Obama happens to be a wonderful orator,” Rigger said. “All the activists were fired up because we had just watched the Republican convention. This kind of gave all the Democratic activists across the country a chance to gather and respond.”
He noted the convention differed from four years ago because this year it was already determined who the party nominee would be.
“Last time there were lingering questions because everyone wanted to have a role for Hillary Clinton,” Rigger said. “This time everyone was here to reelect Barack Obama.”
Besides the televised main attractions, Rigger said the week is full of other events and activities, including protestors at nearly every street corner. He watched Pitbull in concert, stood next to actress Eva Longoria at a party and bought his mother an Obama 2012 designer tote bag.
“It’s almost like going to the Super Bowl. It’s not just the game,” he said.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
