Denver convention beckons Dem delegates from Carmichael

In August, when the Democratic National Convention convenes in Denver, two residents from Carmichael will be there rooting on Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and acting as district delegates for thousands of Democrats living in the 3rd Congressional District.

"I have pro-mised my supporters little, brief reports of what is going on at the convention, and when I come back, I would love to provide insight to others on how the process worked," said Sandie Dunn, who has been a resident of Carmichael for more than 25 years.

Bill Slaton, another longtime Carmichael resident, said he, too, will provide reports to his supporters from the convention.

"I will be blogging or somehow communicating to my supporters to give them another view of the convention," Slaton said.

Dunn and Slaton were elected April 13 at a Democratic caucus at Rio Americano High School. They competed for two seats with two dozen other delegate hopefuls.

The district covers most of suburban Sacramento County including Carmichael, Citrus Heights and parts of Arden Arcade. It also includes Solano County as well as Alpine, Amador and Calaveras counties. More than 700,000 people live in the district.

The caucus at Rio was one of many held throughout the state, where record numbers of Democrats gathered to select delegates to the convention from each California congressional district.

Out of 241 delegates selected statewide, 134 were for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and 107 were for Obama, based on Clinton winning more districts statewide in the February primary.

Dunn and Slaton are well-known in the area. Dunn is a board member of the Carmichael Creek Neighborhood Association, and Slaton is a Sacramento Municipal Utility District board member who represents Ward 7, which includes Carmichael, Foothill Farms, North Highlands, Antelope and a part of Placer County.

Dunn, a lawyer specializing in water issues, was a former candidate for the congressional seat in the 3rd District in 1998. Slaton is the former chairman of the board of KVIE-Channel 6, Sacramento's public television station.

Dunn earned a bachelor's degree in international studies and a law degree from the University of Wyoming. She has children and five grandchildren. She is married to Dick Barbar, chairman of the Carmichael and Old Foothill Farms Community Council.

"For me, the biggest thing at the convention will be to vote for Obama and try and convince others to do the same," Dunn said.

Dunn and Slaton both said they were amazed at the turnout at the caucus elections. The numbers were 10 times greater than usual, they said.

"In past elections, it wasn't on their radar screens. In the past, you could show up with 20 of your friends and win," Slaton said.

Slaton graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He has 25 years' experience in arranging financing for public agency projects. He has served on the board of directors of several area banks. He was elected to the SMUD board in 2002. He is married and has two children.

In talking with people during the campaign, Slaton said he expects huge numbers will watch the televised convention.

"For people in Carmichael, they have two hometown folks at the convention, so when they tune in to the convention, they will feel more a part of the process," Slaton said.

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