DELEGATES PREPARE FOR START OF CONVENTION

Emily Firebaugh of Fredericktown can't believe the kind of attention she has received since her election as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention by the 8th Congressional District caucus in May.

On Thursday, while preparing for departure with many of the 92 members of the Missouri delegation on a flight out of St. Louis Saturday, Firebaugh sifted through a big pile of invitations she had received to receptions and events in New York City.

"I have at least 17 different invitations to forums, seminars, greeting parties and other activities," said Firebaugh. "I just did not realize all these groups would be holding events."

Three of her invitations are to seminars focusing on health care issues and are part of an effort to influence her vote on the party platform.

One of the most interesting invitations she has gotten - and one she definitely plans to attend - is a breakfast meeting hosted by Planned Parenthood that will feature actors Richard Dreyfus and Anne Archer.

Firebaugh said she is sure she won't be able to attend every event, with work on the platform starting at 9 a.m. each day and convention sessions starting in late afternoon.

"I don't know how anyone could get all these events in," said Firebaugh.

But not only are groups interested in having her attend their events, many groups and media outlets have been anxious to find out what she thinks.

"I have gotten no less than three surveys a week for the last month or so asking everything from what are you going to do in New York to what the main issues of the platform should be, or who I think the running mate should be," said Firebaugh.

She has been called several times by Associated Press, a variety of magazines and newspapers, including some she has never heard of.

"If I've had these kinds of surprises here in little old Fredericktown, I can hardly wait to see what will happen in the Big Apple," laughed Firebaugh, a former newspaper publisher in Madison and St. Francois counties who now works as a timberland and commercial properties manager.

Other delegates chosen from the 8th District were also anxiously awaiting the trip to New York and the excitement of attending their first national convention.

Besides Firebaugh, others elected at the district caucus were: Russ Carnahan, a Rolla attorney; Sandy Allison of Rolla, who is vice chairman of the 8th District Democratic Committee; Joe Fallert, a union worker from Ste. Genevieve; and Mark Preyer, an attorney from Kennett.

All are Clinton delegates except for Fallert, who was chosen as uncommitted.

Since Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton locked up the nomination weeks ago and Tennessee Sen. Albert Gore was named Thursday as his running mate, there has been some suggestion that the convention will be uneventful.

But Preyer, Carnahan and Firebaugh expect it to be an exciting event and an opportunity to join fellow Democrats in launching a victorious campaign for the White House.

"It won't be boring at all," said Carnahan, an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in the 8th District two years ago. "I think it will be a chance for Bill Clinton and his running mate to come out strong and for people to get to know them better.

"I think it will be very exciting and a real time for the party to unify even further to really solidify the unity that has been building since Clinton has become the likely nominee. It offers a chance to really focus on the general election."

Preyer, who was motivated to seek a delegate position because of his hometown's proximity to Clinton's home state, thinks there will be some excitement focused on the party platform and strategy decisions for the fall campaign.

"I'm looking forward to a convention where we can come out as united as a group of Democrats can be," said Preyer. He said he hopes that delegates who have supported other candidates will realize the time has come to set aside differences over issues and "understand it is time to win an election."

Preyer said: "This is the place to focus as well as you are going to on a half dozen key points of your candidacy. If Clinton can do that in a well drafted and well presented speech - and I am confident that Al Gore can do this as well - to the point where people can say there are a lot of tough questions here and two men who are comparatively young that can lead the country in the future."

Preyer and Carnahan said they are pleased that the Clinton-Gore ticket reflects a move toward the mainstream of the party.

"I really feel like the Democrats have the opportunity to nominate one of the strongest candidates we've had in decades; someone really coming out of the mainstream of our party and somebody who is from the Midwest and not part of the Washington establishment," said Carnahan.

Carnahan, whose father, Lt. Gov. Mel Carnahan will also be at the convention and is running for governor this year, believes having Clinton from a neighboring state could help Democrats like his father.

Firebaugh is a staunch Clinton backer, but also wants to have input into the party platform. In particular, she supports a provision calling for a pro-choice stance on abortion.

"What will make this convention important to Democrats who are working for a victory is to select the correct platform," said Firebaugh. "Most people do not bother to see what each party stands for, but Democrats this time have a chance to show the American voter we do have a strong program that will benefit the middle class in the United States."

She said, "I'm looking forward to working with fellow Democrats to forge a strong platform to help the American worker and to get the economy back on its feet."

Firebaugh is hoping that Democrats will avoid in-fighting and focus instead on party unity.

Preyer said in looking at the platform, he hopes Democrats will take a moderate approach on issues. A personal priority of his is outlining ways to deal with the huge deficit.

Most of the Missouri delegation will be staying at the St. Moritz On the Park Hotel near Central Park. It is about 25 blocks from the convention headquarters at Madison Square Garden.

In all, about 4,200 delegates will be attending the convention that officially begins Monday and ends late Thursday night.

"It will be nice to be around other Democrats next week," summed up Firebaugh. "The energy of thousands of people together for a common cause is just infectious."