The state’s Young Democrats will be making their way to downtown Jacksonville this weekend for their annual convention.
Jacksonville Young Democrats will be hosting the convention — and some big names from the local, state, and national Democratic Party are expected to attend.
The convention, which runs through Sunday, will be held at the Hyatt Regency. A welcome reception will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, at the 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St. A welcome address from Councilwoman Joyce Morgan is 9 a.m. Saturday at Hyatt Regency Riverfront, 225 E. Coastline Dr.
Kristellys Estanga, president of the Jacksonville Young Democrats, appeared on Friday's First Coast Connect to discuss the details of the convention and the mission of the organization.
“We are really excited about it because we really want to show off Jacksonville and what it has to offer,” she said.
The conference will have panels discussing environmental issues and the Human Rights Ordinance, which has become a hot topic locally. Estanga added she wants to bring the topic of criminal justice into the conversation.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, may make an appearance at the event, but the decision is still pending.
With perception amongst the Democratic Party that Schultz is partial towards presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, the state’s Young Democrats welcomed her to attend despite the majority of the group supporting Bernie Sanders.
“Yes, it is true,” Estanga said, “a lot of us do support Bernie Sanders, myself included, but we do also want to respect the position of the chair. And, organizationally, if the chair wants to come to our convention we will not say no out of respect for that position — no matter who that person is.”
Estanga said the organization's mission is to grow a statewide network to support young democrats who aspire to run for office.
Watch this interview, courtesy of our partner TVJax.
