Local Democrats share thoughts before DNC

The Deschutes Democrats campaign office was closed for the holiday, but that didn’t stop some local candidates from attending a Labor Day picnic.

One of those candidates was Geri Hauser, who is running against Tim Knopp for Bend’s state Senate seat.

We thought it was a good opportunity to ask the candidate and Democratic Party officials their thoughts before the convention gets under way Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Hauser said she’s excited and hopes to become as inspired as she was by the 2008 convention.

“I hope I hear some positive ideas about how to move forward,” Hauser said. “I didn’t hear anything in the Republican convention except bashing the president, and I didn’t hear anything of substance.”

“I think it’s always exciting to see the diversity of the delegates and all the different faces of the people that come together for one big event that kind of expresses where we want to be as a party,” said Laurie Gould, the Deschutes Democrats’ chair.

There are four local delegates attending the convention in Charlotte.