Gov. Brown Opts Out Of Democratic National Convention
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (KCBS) - With the Republican National Convention in the history books, all eyes turn to Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Democrats take their turn next week.
But, the DNC will happen with some noticeable absences; namely, Gov. Jerry Brown.
California's governor cited the need to review a flurry of bills sent to him by the state Legislature, as well as the recent death of his father-in-law, as reasons for opting out of his party's political rally. His wife, Ann Gust Brown, was listed on the official roll of attendees, along with Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, among others.
KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:
It remained to be seen what sort of fallout there would be from Brown's decision, though most pundits agreed party conventions tend to be social opportunities where networking is the priority over substantive policy-making.
But even the parties may be somewhat tempered, considering what a lot of party faithful described as an out-of-the-way locale.
"At the time I think that when the choice was made as to where it was, because someone thought that having the convention in a given state would help influence how that state would vote in the election, and they counted that particular state as important to Barack Obama," theorized former San Francisco Mayor and one-time state Assembly Speaker Willie Brown.
"It's a nightmare," Brown continued," "trying to get in an out of there. You still have to use a Greyhound bus!"
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