July 26, 2004

County Legislators Take Westchester Voice
To Boston Convention

Recently, County Legislators Lois T. Bronz (D-Greenburgh), Michael Kaplowitz (D-Somers), George Latimer (D-Rye), José I. Alvarado (D-Yonkers), and Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers), joined some 4,353 elected delegates from every state and territory of the United States at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Legislator Lois Bronz is a veteran delegate, this was her third national convention. A registered Democrat for more than 50 years and an elected official for 28 years, Bronz viewed this convention as one of the most important to date. “During the platform debates and strategy sessions, I stressed the principles that reflect the important issues facing Westchester and all Americans,” said Bronz.

This was the second convention Michael Kaplowitz has attended as a delegate. “It’s always exciting,” said Kaplowitz, “one meets so many people to exchange ideas with.”

George Latimer, a candidate for the New York State 91st Assembly District, viewed the convention experience from a dual perspective. “As a first-time delegate and a candidate myself, I find the national process of nominating a candidate and setting a platform mind-boggling,” said Latimer. “But as big as it is, it’s still grassroots people at work.”

“This was my first opportunity to represent the people in my district on national issues,” said José Alvarado, another first-time delegate. “With my colleagues from the national Hispanic community, New York State and Westchester County, we voiced our interests.”

Legislator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, a candidate for the New York State 35th Senate District, attended the convention meetings as a non-delegate. “It’s was quite a hectic pace,” she says, “and I was pleased to have had the opportunity to address the New York delegation”