Parkway School Board Member Ready For Democratic Party Convention Duties

The primary political campaigns are over, and it is time to focus on November. A key part of that in a Presidential election year are the major party political conventions.

Republicans will gather in Tampa, Fla., while Democrats will head to Charlotte, N.C. We'll be profiling as many local delegates we can find between now and then.

Parkway School Board member Tom Applebaum and his wife LaDonna will be part of the Democrats' delegation in Charlotte Sept. 3-6.

The two have been active in the Democratic Party for a while. Tom said his father once ran for state representative, and his uncle served in that capacity. LaDonna Appelbaum is a former political campaign manager for Missouri State Rep. Jill Schupp.

LaDonna Appelbaum said she thinks the Missouri Democratic Party is becoming stronger with more young people getting involved. Tom Appelbaum said people have a perception that Missouri is becoming more red, but he doesn’t believe that’s the case.

“I think the red has gotten more vocal about it,” he said.

LaDonna said the pair will probably attend the small business caucus. She also said she may attend the women’s caucus. But as for specific responsibilities once in North Carolina, Tom said they’re still finding out.

This year, some candidates, including Missouri U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, widely viewed as facing one of the toughest fights nationally for re-election, are skipping their party's convention to stay home and campaign.

In addition to watching speeches from candidates and leading party figures, delegates like the Applebaums will be eligible for some pampering too.

The Huffington Post (like Patch, also owned by parent company AOL), will have spas set up for convention-goers in both cities, according to the Charlotte Observer.