O'Neill heads to Denver

CANTON — June F. O'Neill's third trip to the Democratic National Convention will be more work than play.

The Morley resident was there four years ago and as an Edward M. Kennedy delegate in 1980, but as chairwoman of the state's Democratic Committee, she's in charge of making sure New York's more than 280 delegates, their families and guests get to and around Denver.

"We're right up to our eyeballs right now in getting everything ready for the more than 600 people that will be there from the New York delegation," she said Friday. "It's been totally consuming for the last two months. We've been planning for this since January."

The longtime St. Lawrence County Democratic chairwoman was elected head of the state party in December 2006, on the heels of former Gov. Eliot L. Spitzer's landslide victory.

She leaves Friday for Denver. She and her staff will have the daily task of making sure delegates and guests have the appropriate credentials and get to receptions, luncheons, conferences and votes.

"It's work. There's no question my family knows they probably won't be seeing too much of me," she said. "The credentials are serious business. They come with a courier who comes in an armored vehicle."

The nation will be looking to the New York delegation to help mend the rift of the prolonged battle between hometown Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama, the nominee-in-waiting. Some delegates will stand steadfast with the former first lady.

"People are excited that Hillary is going to be nominated," Mrs. O'Neill said. "I think people see it as recognition of what she accomplished and the fact that she is the first woman to be nominated."

Mrs. O'Neill campaigned for Mrs. Clinton. Despite that, she is encouraging loyalists to keep in mind the greater good of the party.

"People who are true Hillary supporters need to hear what she's saying. She said she'll do whatever she can to make sure he's elected president," she said. "We're trying to keep an eye on the bottom line: that's that Barack Obama is elected president."

2985102

20080818

St. Lawrence

1

1

A

Watertown Daily Times

A1_fram_O'Neill DNC

nw01