Mock Democratic caucus to be held Saturday

MEDINA — A mock Democratic Primary caucus Saturday will invite prospective area voters to learn the ins and outs of the process set to take place in Iowa on Feb. 3. The event is being put on by the Medina Democratic Club. Doors open 8:45 a.m. at the Medina County University Center, 6300 Technology Lane, Medina. Admissions is $10 for participants 18 and older but those younger than 18 can make their voice heard free of charge. Medina Democratic Club President Nicholas Baker and Communications Director Carol Gurney will lead proceedings. Gurney said it will be the first mock Democratic caucus held in Medina since 2007, when a similar event was put on by Medina Democratic Women, a group that has since ceased operations. Gurney said the 2007 gathering attracted roughly 60 people, but organizers are hoping for a turnout of more than 100 on Saturday. "We just want to educate people on what a public vote looks like and how it occurs," she said. "What they do in Iowa is very different than what most people are used to with a private vote by ballot. We really want a big group this time. The more who come the more fun and interesting the day will be." Candidates eligible for votes on Saturday will be Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, businessman Andrew Yang, businessman Tom Steyer and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Donna Beheydt, a Wadsworth Democrat running for the Ohio House's 69th District seat, is scheduled to be an active participant. A first or "viable" round of voting will narrow down the field to those who can win 15 percent or more of total participants' support. A final round will then rank the candidates in order of total support received. Votes from participants younger than 18 will be tallied separately in a traditional ballot style. Gurney said early talks among the club in terms of who they support match most current national polls, with Sanders and Biden standing out. "Iowa has a really complicated way that they determine the winners in the final round," she said. "We're going to just do it by whoever gets the majority votes. Iowa never used to give the results from their first round, but from what I've read that is supposed to change this year. Bernie Sanders said he won the viable round in 2016 but no one knew it. There's a lot of strategy in the Iowa caucus. You talk to people. People are trying to convince others what to do. It's not just dropping a vote in a box. It's much more interactive." Starting in March, the Medina Democratic Club will hold meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Medina County Administration Building, 144 N. Broadway St., Medina. "The Medina County University Center has been very gracious in working with us to put everything together for Saturday," said Gurney. "We're very, very thankful for that. We have the whole third floor of their building for this event, so there's plenty of room for however many people show up." Funds collected Saturday will go back into the Medina Democratic Club, which is registered as a political action committee. Gurney said proceeds will go toward supporting local and state candidates in primary and general elections. For for information on the club or Saturday's caucus, call Gurney at (330) 722-6921 or email medinademsclub@gmail.com. Contact reporter Jonathan Delozier at (330) 721-4050 or jdelozier@medina-gazette.com.