Community Corner
National Convention "Was Heaven," Says Napa Republican
Tampa, Fla. during the Republican National Convention was a far cry from Napa, says Marleia Sire, who attended the proceedings as a convention guest.
After weeks of procrastinating, Marleia Sire made a last-minute decision to attend the Republican National Convention last month as a guest. The role isn't as casual as the name suggests, Sire said:
"They call you a guest, but you have to apply," she said last week from her home in Napa. "It's not as glamorous as it sounds."
After passing what she called "a pretty rigid screening with a lot of forms, a lot of paperwork," Sire was cleared to attend the convention in Tampa as a guest.
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Her status gave her access to nearly all the events attended by the California delegates, including Janet Kirtlink of Napa and Upvalley resident Pat Krueger, including breakfasts, luncheons and speeches.
"I could do everything the delegates could do except sit on the actual floor of the convention," said Sire, who called the convention "just such an amazing experience, actually just being there."
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Being in an all-Republican crowd was a breath of fresh air for Sire:
"In Napa, in California, there's not a lot of Republicans—but in Florida, oh my gosh, it was great ... It was heaven."
Back in Napa, Sire got right to work as the precinct director for the Napa County Republicans in the November election, and is looking ahead to future state legislation:
"I'm working on a voter I.D. proposition coming up," she said.
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