Jeff Hajny

    In November, the nation will make a decision which will impact it for the next four years. This will be the year we will be electing a new president who will be the head of our nation until 2012.
     One thing the state of Nebraska has not had during election years is a system of caucuses.
     On Jan. 27, the Seward County Democrats, along with Nebraska Democratic Party Field Organizer Eric M. Van Horn, held a mock caucus to promote the system in Nebraska and show members how the system works.
     The mock caucus revolved around having the group campaign for former Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.
     Once everyone made their decision, each group's leader presented information on why their candidate was the right choice.
     This mock caucus was done to prepare Nebraska Democrats for an upcoming county caucus, which will take place on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Seward Civic Center.
     "Nebraska deserves to have its voice heard on a national stage," Van Horn said. "People saw what happened in Iowa, and now there will hopefully be a lot of excitement for what will be happening here."
     A caucus is a convention of precinct Democrats who discuss important issues for the platform and elect delegates to the county convention. The caucus delegates will then choose their presidential candidate.
     Each candidate's supporters gather in distinct areas of the room and each group elects a leader. The leader speaks on behalf of the group about their candidate's strengths.
     Each candidate's supporters are counted. Candidates must have at least 15 percent support from the group to be viable.
     "This concept comes from Iowa," Van Horn said. "The idea is the candidate needs a broad range of support."
     If a group is non-viable, members may combine with another group in support of their candidate.
     Seward County is home to more than 3,500 Democrats.
     All are invited to attend the upcoming countywide caucus. Registration will be from 2 to 2:15 p.m. and the caucus will end at 4 p.m.
     "There are games and other things going on around town that day, but we have a chance to make history in two weeks. I personally can't wait," Seward County Democrat Chair Stephanie Nantkes said.