|
|
Thursday, September 4, 2008
|
|
Pine River woman earns guest seat
Associate Editor ST. PAUL - Danielle Sonenstahl's political activism involved a roundabout journey, but it landed the 20-year-old Pine River college student a guest seat at the first day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.
The former Miss Pine River princess was a student at North Dakota State University for her first two years in college and a friend got her involved in North Dakota Republican politics. Sonenstahl moved across the Red River and transferred to Minnesota State University in Moorhead this year but she continued to live in Fargo, N.D., and kept up her North Dakota GOP activities.
She was elected as a delegate to the North Dakota state convention but realized that she would miss too much school to seek a spot as a delegate to the national convention. She was, however, able to wrangle a seat as a North Dakota delegation guest to Monday's opening session at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Her excitement about the national convention was tempered somewhat when she learned that President George W. Bush, who was to be the featured speaker Monday, had to call off his Monday appearance.
"I didn't find out until I was halfway down here," she said.
At Monday's pre-convention meetings she had the chance to hear actor Jon Voight and political commentator Mary Matalin.
Sonenstahl said being raised in a Republican family influenced her choice of parties.
"Conservatism just makes sense to me," she said. "I like to hunt. I like to fish. I love that (Alaska Gov.) Sarah Palin is in there."
The idea of a GOP ticket with a conservative woman, who is pro-life and a member of the NRA, appealed to Sonenstahl. She is less excited about the party's choice of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., as its nominee, saying only that she'll "probably" vote for him.
"Right now, I'm not sold completely yet," she said. "He's definitely the best candidate right now."
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was her first choice, and she was quick to add that her support was because of his conservative views and not because she is a Mormon.
She said her dad was interested in politics and a supporter of Rep. Larry Howes, R-Walker. When she was younger she thought politics was interesting but didn't really become active until her college years.
Sonenstahl is working to earn a degree in speech language pathology and carefully watched the sign language interpreter at Monday's session. She plans to move back to Minnesota after college but doesn't know whether she will ever run for office.
"I definitely think I need to be an informed citizen," she said, noting many people her age are not very knowledgeable about politics.
Minnesota, in particular the Brainerd lakes area, is "definitely God's country," she said. Her family has been in the Pine River area since she was 6 years old.
While at Pine River-Backus High School Sonenstahl was involved in band, choir, theater and Girl Scouts.
Although she described her missed opportunity to see President Bush as a "bummer," Sonenstahl was excited being around all the convention excitement.
"lt's really cool taking this all in," she said.
MIKE O'ROURKE can be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
To Subscribe to the Brainerd Dispatch, Click Here.
Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Brainerd Dispatch. Please read our posting rules in the terms of service policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the triangle alert icon.
|
|
|
|
|
 Top Commented Articles
Over the last 7 days
Most Recent Comments
|
|
|
|
Thinking about a New Job?
These employers want you!
|
Loading...
|
|
|
Today's Best Classifieds:
|
|
|
|
|
|
