Illinois convention delegates offer diversity of political experience

ST. PAUL - Who are these folks you will see on your TV screens the next four days, the ones packed like so many sardines onto the convention center floor, holding aloft John McCain signs and casting - come Wednesday night - the ballots that officially will make him the Republican presidential nominee?

In the Republicans' case, these delegates to the national convention will be 2,380 strong, including 70 from Illinois.

Some, like retired Air Force Maj. Gen. John Borling, of Rockford, are close to the nominee himself. Borling and John McCain spent years together as prisoners of war at the "Hanoi Hilton," forging a bond that has lasted for four decades.

Many are local GOP officials widely recognized in their communities as party activists or elected officials. State Sen. Kirk Dillard, of Hinsdale, is one such delegate. So are state Rep. Sidney Mathias, of Buffalo Grove, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and Rich Williamson, a 1992 candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Others, like Nina J. Stephenson, will be attending their first convention after years of working in lower-profile ways for the party in one capacity or another. Stephenson, of Barrington Hills, was a "Young Republican for Reagan" before she was old enough to vote. Now, nearly 30 years later, she arrives in St. Paul as a delegate for McCain.

In Illinois, both major parties vote for convention delegates in the presidential primary. Stephenson won her spot by drawing enough votes throughout the sprawling 16th Congressional District, an outcome she called "humbling."

For most delegates, their one official duty is to vote for their party's presidential nominee. Some, like Stephenson, carry additional committee responsibilities, in her case, credentials.

During convention week, delegates do a lot of cheering and shouting in front of national TV cameras. They also can choose from a dazzling array of after-hour parties.

But Stephenson looks at the week ahead as anything but a lark. Talking to a reporter recently, she had cable news networks on in the background and had been reading up on credential committee duties.

"I've been studying very hard," Stephenson said, "trying to watch all the political stuff. I want to be prepared. It's a big responsibility representing nine counties. I've been all over the district to meet people and they're all so warm and friendly."

A suburban delegate who does not fit the all-politics-all-the-time mold is Mary Jo Mikottis, an Elmhurst nurse, although she did campaign on behalf of DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett.

She ran for a slot as a McCain delegate in the February primary at the urging of her brother, John Hoffman, who long has been active in Republican politics. At the time of her brother's call, McCain's chances for winning the party nomination seemed slim at best.

"Most people were getting behind other candidates," Mikottis said, "but I had always admired John McCain."

Mikottis attended the party's 2004 national convention in New York strictly as an observer and said she's excited about taking a more active role this time.

"I'm curious to see what it's like to be on the floor and have a delegate's seat," Mikottis said. "I hope to come back with a lot of enthusiasm and ideas on how to support (McCain's) campaign here in Illinois."