BEAUMONT — BEAUMONT — W. Joe Deshotel, executive director for the Jefferson County Democratic Party, moved the county convention earlier this week from Austin Middle School in Beaumont to West Brook High School because he believed there was not enough space at the middle school for the estimated 1,000 people in attendance.

That number was off, however. Instead of 1,000 attendees, there were nearly 2,000 that attended the county convention on Saturday. A large and enthusiastic crowd elected pledged delegates and adopted resolutions and rules for the state convention in Austin on June 5-7. Deshotel said 1,000 delegates were elected at the March 4 caucuses and the county convention will determine how to distribute them statewide with the same number of delegates selected.

The final results for Jefferson County was a total of 102 delegates, consisting of senate districts 4 and 17, who will go to the state convention. Seventy-one delegates voted for Sen. Barack Obama and 31 voted for Sen. Hillary Clinton. Senate district 17 represents Port Arthur Obama garnered 19 votes versus five for Clinton.

“One-thousand delegates for Jefferson County is unbelievable,” Deshotel said. “At the last convention (in 2004), we elected 150 and it still took us six hours to pass everything. I’m happy they changed the location because I could never imagine that many people fitting in there (at Austin Middle School). I ask our people to be prepared to be patient.

“I thought it would be the same kind of confusion as at the primary caucus, I was fearing chaos, but that’s not the case. We’re excited, but I’m asking everyone to be patient. Our people did a lot of work.”

Deshotel said some of the resolution issues to be discussed will include health care, Iraq, etc.

Bob Nash is a deputy campaign manager for the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign and also worked for Bill Clinton when he was president. He delivered a high energy delivery to the convention crowd on why they should vote for Hillary Clinton. Mixed in with the cheers, however, were a small chorus of boos when Nash mentioned Hillary’s name.

“This audience looks like America. We’re going to beat John McCain in November. Mr. McCain will be sent home this November by you. We want you to feel good about being an American again,” Nash said. “She’s tough. She’ll stand up for you if you stand up for her. You will make it happen. You’ve gone from door to door, telephoned and walked and canvassed, so please go and vote.”

Miguel Solis of Port Arthur, is a Lamar University student majoring in history. He spoke on behalf of the Barack Obama presidential campaign. He spoke to overwhelming applause and to chants, “Yes We Can!”

Solis said Obama has inspired him to unify people to come together. So people may have a sense of pride in the nation by coming together. He continued saying that the realization becomes today and he is inspired to make his community and Jefferson County better from the bottom- up.

Solis said he believes with Obama, the youth will have a better day for tomorrow and they must fight for change and leave the nation better than they found it.

Solis first discovered Obama three years ago when the Illinois senator spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

“I believe strongly in what he stood for; to make his presidency happen,” Solis said.

He added Obama’s campaign group on his Web site contacted him to become involved. Likewise, he said he would be honored to attend the state convention, but he wants someone else to go so they can have the same kind of opportunities as he has had.

Ron Arceneaux, of Port Arthur, is a lifelong Democrat and was attending his first county convention. He was there because he wanted to participate in the political process.

“These are some very important decisions. On election night (March 4) I knew there would be a large turnout. I think we have a good cross section (of the population),” Arceneaux said.

The Jefferson County Republican Party met in the Jefferson County Courthouse jury impaneling room for their county convention Saturday.

Unlike the Jefferson County Democratic convention that looked to be a marathon session, Republicans began their convention at 2 p.m. and hoped to finish by 5 p.m.

Dr. Doug Conner is party chairman and said the convention business was to elect state convention nominees and approve resolutions to be ratified. He added that 51 delegates and 51 alternates have been selected for the state convention in Houston on June 12-14.

Five strategic issues and resolutions were presented to the audience including:

• Fixing the erosion of national sovereignty by securing the border.

• Rein in out of control costs of government.

• Address the devaluation of the American dollar by abolishing the Federal Reserve System.

• Rein in out of control federal judges.

• Protection of property rights and civil liberties.

Some of the more contentious and time-consuming resolutions was having to do with illegal immigration.