Man on to Democratic Convention

Bonners Ferry resident Julian Langness was selected to be part of the Idaho Delegation to the national Democratic Convention in Denver this August.

The 22-year-old is the youngest member of the delegation, which is comprised of various Idaho citizens and Democratic officeholders, and will represent our state at the Democratic Convention.

Langness is currently a senior at the University of Washington in Seattle, and plans on attending Law School after graduation.

Although he describes himself as more of an Independent than a Democrat because of his support for gun rights and several other more conservative positions, he was inspired by Barack Obama to get involved in the Democratic Primary process. He was the county captain for the Obama campaign earlier this spring and at the Feb. 5 county caucuses, he was elected as one of two Boundary County Obama delegates to the State Convention. He and Jerry Pavia attended the state convention.

At the stateconvention in Boise, he was one of more than a hundred other state delegates running for a spot in the delegation. He was eventually selected for the position of page, beating out over 30 others who applied specifically for the position. There are only 100 pages who serve at the national convention, one male and one female from each state.

“The page position is really good too because you get floor credentials, which means you are down on the floor of the convention with all the senators and congressmen and important people and everything,” said Langness.

The democratic and republican national conventions both take place later this summer, and are televised nationally. The Republican one will take place in Minneapolis, and the Democratic one in Denver.

Although excited to be the youngest member of the delegation, and the only one north of Coeur d’Alene, Julian says, there is still a lot of work he has to do. Delegates are not paid, and therefore he has to raise a minimum of $3,000 to be able to attend, in order to cover all the non-optional airfare, hotel, and other expenses that are specified and reserved ahead of time by the national Democratic Party.

He is trying to raise the money through donations from members of the community, both individuals and businesses.

“I would appreciate any donation, no matter how small,” said Langness. “This is about as much political representation as Boundary County ever gets, and I think it’s a great opportunity to represent our county, and I would appreciate any help tremendously.”

Langness has established a fund for raising money. Anyone who would like to contribute can address checks and send money to “Julian Langness National Convention Fund,, care of Alice Hendrickson, P.O. Box 926, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, or directly to Julian at 111 Wistful Way, Bonners Ferry.

All contributors will be sent a letter detailing the convention after he attends it, with pictures and a description of how it went. Also, business’s donating money will be in no way connected to the Democratic Party through the donation, and will purely be giving money to Langness as an individual and not as a representative of any organization or political party.

Information: Julian Langness, 267-5680.