Holding an informal meeting between Democratic National Convention sessions are (from left) former state Rep. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago), Rozanne Ronen of Barrington, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, 8th Congressional District State Central Committeewoman Nancy Shepherdson of Barrington and former state Rep. Lauren Beth Gash (D-Highland Park), who is also the 10th Congressional District State Central Committeewoman. Photo courtesy of Lauren Beth Gash.
Lauren Beth Gash has a 20-year-old pillow in her Highland Park home with the message, “A woman’s place is in the House … and Senate.”
As the 10th Congressional District State Central committeewoman, Lake County Democratic Party vice chair and a former four-term member of the Illinois General Assembly from 1992 to 2000, Gash is ready for a new model of the pillow now that former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is the Democrats presidential nominee.
Gash, who is one of five North Shore delegates to the Democratic National Convention July 25-28 in Philadelphia, gets emotional when she thinks about a vote for Clinton as the first female presidential nominee of a major party.
“I don’t plan on wearing mascara,” Gash, who is an elected Clinton delegate, told DailyNorthShore.com before Clinton secured the Democratic nomination during a roll call vote shortly before 6 p.m. July 26. “I cried. I’m still crying,” she added after the nomination.
“When I bought that pillow there were only two women senators (out of 100) and we were hopeful of getting more women in Congress. We said two percent is fine for milk but not for women in Congress.”
Sharon Sanders of Northbrook takes a different view. Sanders was elected as a delegate to support Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) who waged a close primary battle with Clinton for the nomination before losing. Sharon Sanders said she sees issues, not gender. She said the two are not related.
Northbrook Delegate Seeks Racial, Economic Justice
“If things were better in the country I might feel different,” Sanders told DNS.com. “I want someone who will promote racial and economic justice. We can’t have an economy where everything flows to the top one percent.”
Another delegate is Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston). She is a super delegate by virtue of her office and committed to Clinton. Like Gash, she is excited about the history of this convention and feels the Democratic Party is unifying behind Clinton.
“It gives me goose bumps, it really does,” Schakowsky, who was first elected in 1998, said of Clinton’s nomination. “I’m not seeing disunity in spite of what they showed on TV. They had to have their moment but they know who is the bully and the name caller,” she added referring to Republican nominee Donald J. Trump.
Though she will be casting her convention vote for Bernie Sanders, Sharon Sanders said she will vote for Clinton in the fall but not with enthusiasm. Sharon Sanders said there is not unity in the party yet and wants to see Clinton more in line with issues Bernie Sanders champions.
“I don’t feel we’re unified,” Sharon Sanders said. “We may get there but we’re not there yet. Maybe by the third day or maybe by the fourth. There are issues about poverty and education and the Trans Pacific Partnership,” she added referring to a trade pact between nations on both sides of the Pacific Ocean Bernie Sanders opposes. “It will allow the multinationals to take control.”
Bernie Sanders made an effort to unify the party at the end of the roll call of the states when delegates voted for him or Clinton. The tally continued after South Dakota gave Clinton a majority. When it was Vermont’s opportunity, the delegation passed its turn until the Wyoming voted and the convention chairperson returned to Vermont.
Sen. Sanders Makes Unity Move
Sanders had moved from his seat in the gallery to a spot with his state’s delegates on the convention floor. He asked the convention to suspend the rules and nominate Clinton by acclamation.
After Clinton officially secured the nomination, Schakowsky spoke the same evening during the convention. She said the purpose was highlighting the role of women in Congress. It began when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) finished her speech and called the other 107 female members of the chamber to the stage.
“I’ll be the eighth one she calls up,” Schakowsky said the morning of July 26. “I’ll talk about how Republicans want to hold women back. Women are not going to go back. With Hillary Clinton all women (and all people) can go forward.” She said she will speak for approximately two minutes.
Gash said she has seen a lot of history in the five Democratic conventions she has attended. As a delegate in 2008 and 2012, she voted for President Barack Obama. She said she also sees significance in a Democratic primary where a Jewish senator and a female former senator and secretary of state competed in a close contest to succeed the first African American president.
“As a Jewish woman I feel proud to see what Bernie (Sanders) and Hilary (Clinton) have done,” Gash said. “I cast a vote for Barack Obama as the first African American presidential nominee and I can remember it was quite an extraordinary moment.”
The two other delegates from the North Shore are Andrew Boron of Highland Park, pledged to Clinton, and Brian Dupuis of Lake Bluff, a Bernie Sanders delegate. Schakowsky represents all of Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka and Northfield as well as parts of Northbrook and Glenview.
Sharing a meal before going to the convention hall to watch Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton nominated for president are (from left) Sanders’ delegates Sharon Sanders of Northbrook, Maureen Sullivan of Chicago and Brendan Houlihan of Palos Heights. Photo courtesy of Sharon Sanders.