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Monday, Aug. 18, 2008

Los Osos couple headed to Democratic National Convention in Denver

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Theresa Perry of Los Osos has been a political junkie since fourth grade.

Her parents sent her to Republican summer camps for teenagers, and she walked precincts during campaign seasons. Although she was never a demonstrator, she remembers speaking during classroom debates on the Kennedy-Nixon presidential race.

After several years of not being involved in politics, Perry will get another chance to re-enter the arena next week as a guest at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is expected accept the party’s nomination there.

Obama also is expected to announce his running mate on the final day of the convention.

Perry, 56, and her husband, Patrick, were invited to the convention by their son, Seamus, 27, who was hired to help staff the event.

Staffers are allowed to invite their parents, who are treated to special events throughout the four-day convention. That includes workshops, forums and events with convention speakers. Convention organizers will also host special briefings for parents.

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N. Y., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are scheduled to speak at the event, which typically draws about 50,000 visitors, delegates and journalists.

“I think it’ll be a real learning experience to listen to a bunch of wonks talk about policy,” Theresa Perry said.

She said she hopes she’ll be able to better understand public policy on a variety of topics.

“I can’t discuss health care — on a personal level, yes, but I have no clue” in a broader sense, she said.

She also plans to blog while she’s at the convention —something she has never done before.

The Perrys have lived in Los Osos since 1984. Their son, Seamus, graduated from Morro Bay High School and has worked in politics since graduating from Claremont McKenna College in 2004.