Glazer says she witnessed history at DNC in Philadelphia

Sept. 9, 2016 | Chris Goudreau
cgoudreau@thereminder.com

Candy Glazer (center), who serves as campaign chair of state Sen. Eric Lesser, poses with her husband Stanley (right) and Lesser (left) during the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
Reminder Publications submitted photo

LONGMEADOW – Candy Glazer, chair of the Longmeadow Democratic Town Committee, has been to more than half a dozen Democratic National Conventions in the past, but when she attended the July 2016 convention in Philadelphia, PA, she said she felt something different – she was witnessing history.

“To see Barack Obama, the first African American president, literally pass the baton to [Hillary Clinton], the first woman nominated [for president] by the Democratic party was extremely moving,” Glazer said. “I was very glad I was there to see it.”

Glazer, who was a Hillary Clinton delegate on the Credentials Committee, a leadership position, told Reminder Publications she’s served as a delegate for state and national conventions in the past, starting in 1992 in New York where Bill Clinton was nominated for president.

“Hillary Clinton came and spoke to the Massachusetts delegation and that was the first time I had seen here and I was very impressed by her,” she noted. “And this, I felt, was full circle 24 years later.”

She said one of the most interesting aspects of the convention was getting to see senators such as Elizabeth Warren, Edward Markey, and Bernie Sanders.

“This year was very interesting because the delegation was split between Bernie Sanders delegates and the Clinton delegates and … the press had made it seem like it was a split convention and it wasn’t. It was a spirit of great unity. The theme of the convention was, ‘stronger together.’ And people really felt united for a Democratic victory in November.”

She said she believes the Republican National Convention, which took place prior to the convention, was extremely negative

“Their nominee, [Donald Trump], kept saying everything that’s wrong with America,” Glazer said. “This was such a refreshing switch … People really wanted to work hard for us. I think the first major address, the first night, when Michelle Obama spoke, I think she really set the tone,” Glazer said.

She said she enjoyed speaking with first-time delegates during the convention and the enthusiasm the new delegates often bring to the event.

She added the convention starts early in the morning with meetings that focus on major issues for the party.

“There’s women’s groups; there’s labor groups; there’s teacher’s groups,” she explained. “You get to meet people in areas that you’re interested in as well.”

Glazer said she also attended a lunch with President Obama’s former White House staff and met friends of hers from the John Kerry and Al Gore presidential campaigns.

She said she’s against people not voting during an election and believes it should be mandatory.

“To say, ‘I’m not going to vote’ when so many people have worked hard and fought so hard for the right to vote, you have to make a decision and you have to vote,” Glazer said. “If you don’t vote, you’re not part of it. You’ve got nothing to say after that.”

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