There’s a party of elephants heading to Philadelphia.
Republicans, protesters and a few Oregonians make up those who are expected to attend the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday and ends Wednesday in Philadelphia.
An estimated 45,000 GOP supporters will pour into the “city of brotherly love” to take part in the gathering.
“I believe there are about 12 or 13 delegates who will be going from Oregon,” said Sandy Reed, a convention delegate from Lane County and president of Republican Women of Central Lane.
Also from the local area, University alum Jeff Osanka will serve as an alternate delegate.
“There will be around 2,000 delegates and 2,000 alternate delegates,” Osanka said. “They will be on the floor at all times, although alternate delegates are not allowed to vote.”
Neither of the two Lane County representatives have attended the convention in the past, but both have been assured that it is going to be an exciting time.
“Being a delegate [or alternate delegate] means access to everything,” Osanka said. “You get to wander around the floor and talk to people in your section, and you get to go to all of the parties and gatherings.”
Reed has also been preparing for her trip.
“There is going to be so much going on,” she said. “They tell you to bring an empty suitcase because you bring so much back with you.”
Along with excitement inside the convention, a different type of excitement is expected to take place outside the convention. Daily protests have been planned to take place July 29 through August 3.
Protesters will address everything from health care to workers rights, the environment to death row issues. According to a recent Washington Post article, protesters are also in the process of building an 80-foot float called Corpizilla, which will make its appearance on the streets of Philadelphia.
“I’m not too worried about the protesters,” Reed said. “There are supposed to be shuttle buses that take us everywhere.”
While the convention as a whole is expected to be exciting, the political side may not be as controversial as previous conventions.
“There doesn’t seem like there is going to be much controversy regarding the issues,” said Lane County’s Republican Party Chair Jeff Hoyt.
“Most of the controversial issues the party has dealt with in the past have been dealt with internally. There is more unanimity among the party now.”
Some of the issues that will be dealt with surprised some of the representatives.
“I thought some of the main issues would be drugs or crime or prescriptions,” Reed said. “Many of the issues are things like salmon, damns and property rights.”
Along with the community getting geared up for the election, so are students from the University. Three people — James Eddy, Andy Combs and Dave Roselip — will be attending the convention and staying in campus dorms.
“It is exciting that people are going to be there representing the University,” said Jason Gathercole, chairman of the College Republicans.