But unlike most at the convention, Ferguson will be supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton, whom he has supported since she first entered the race to be the Democratic nominee for president.
“Of all the candidates. . . . I thought Hillary Clinton could provide the change and experience we need,” he said.
Ferguson is set to arrive in Denver two days before the convention is slated to begin on Monday and is due to return Aug. 29, a day after Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to give his acceptance speech.
Ferguson’s brief tenure on local governing boards seeded his desire to be part of the electoral process, and he has spent nearly $2,000 on hotel and airfare during his journey.
His support of Clinton was buoyed by last week’s announcement that the New York senator’s name will be entered into the official roll call during the convention. The symbolic move, organized by Clinton and Obama officials, was planned as a show of unity by the Democratic Party after a bruising primary season left supporters of both candidates wondering what might happen during the upcoming convention.
In continuing to support Clinton, despite the fact that she stands no chance of winning the nomination, Ferguson figures he is building on his role as an elected delegate.
“There is no way that supporters such as myself . . . can let her down,” said Ferguson, a Burbank resident who in 2007 became the youngest person to serve on Burbank’s Park, Recreation and Community Services Board.
“There will be 4,000 delegates, of which between 1,600 and 1,700 are Hillary Clinton supporters. I think delegates that support Hillary Clinton need to be heard.
As soon as her name is submitted in the convention, she will release her delegates.”
