COLLEGE PARK – One hundred ten Maryland Democrats will join the nearly 5,000 delegates and alternates to the Democratic National Convention in Boston beginning Monday, including a fifth-term U.S. senator – Paul Sarbanes – and a fifth-year world history teacher from Severn – Charles Dean.
Also in the delegation, which is almost evenly split between men and women, are 52 residents from as far afield as Brunswick and Federalsburg elected during the March primary by registered Democrats.
The complexion of the 2004 delegation is slightly less diverse than it was in 2000, with 68 percent Caucasian, up from 64 percent, and 22 percent African-American, down from nearly 28 percent taken to Los Angeles.
Hispanics and Asians will each make up 2 percent of the delegation, both down from 4 percent in 2000.
Bill Burlison, 73, a former Missouri congressman, is Maryland’s oldest delegate, while three 25-year-olds are tied for the youngest.
Among those who provided demographic information to Capital News Service, nearly 80 percent said they were Christian, while just under 16 percent said they were Jewish. One delegate is Muslim, one is a Quaker and two are members of the Unitarian Universalist Church.
Teachers, attorneys, homemakers and a roster of public officials — including former Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Mechanicsville, and Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley — will join the delegation. Among voting delegates, 61 are pledged to Kerry, 19 to Edwards, and the rest are unpledged.
The delegates will stay alongside Alaskans and New Hampshirites at the Seaport Hotel in Boston, which, according to its Web site, boasts “panoramic views” from its 18th-floor “Admiral” suite and outfits its guestrooms with “handcrafted cherry furniture.” – 30- CNS-7-23-04