Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
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Martinsville, Virginia 24115
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| Meeting at PHCC wraps up |
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Sen. Barack Obama discussed energy, the economy, health care and care for veterans with an enthusiastic crowd during a town hall meeting Wednesday in Henry County.
The event, which was held at Patrick Henry Community College’s Motorsports Complex, began about 11:45 a.m. and lasted until around 1 p.m.
Anna Scott, a regional director with Obama’s campaign, told those in attendance they may be among the first to know Obama’s choice of a running mate and encouraged attendees to text “VP” on their cell phones to 62262 (Obama on a telephone keypad).
A “Thank You” reply was received in the return text and participants were told the phone will “buzz” with the name soon.
Obama, the presumed Democratic nominee for president, held the invitation-only event to focus on trade policies.
By 10 a.m. Wednesday, a long line of people winded around in front of the motorsports building, eager to attend the late-morning meeting. Before they were allowed access, attendees were required to pass through a metal detector, and security wands were then waved over each person as a secondary precaution.
Purses were searched, and specially trained K-9 units sniffed photographic equipment before admittance was granted. Security officers were stationed in various locations throughout the building, with local law enforcement officials, as well as members of the Virginia State Police, helping provide security.
After they were cleared for access, attendees filed into a large room with folding chairs arranged in the center of the room for seating.
The media area was located behind the main seating area, with a multitude of media outlets present, including print, broadcast and radio.
Former Tultex Corp. employee Mary Minter, 62, was among local residents hoping for an opportunity to talk to Obama.
Minter worked for 15 years at the Tultex Corp. but lost her job when the company closed in 2000. Minter said she was unemployed for six months before landing what has turned into an 8-year post at Nautica.
“It’s taken me eight years to make the same amount of money I made at Tultex,” she said. However, that does not include retirement and other benefits lost when Tultex closed.
In a few years when Minter retires, she will have only what she gets from Nautica.
Minter said she hopes to tell Obama about the “devastating” effect trade agreements have had “on the working people.”
Kris Landrum, who helped stage the event, said a portion of Obama’s advance team has been in the area since Saturday. When the meeting is over later today, Landrum estimated she will have spent 48 hours preparing and/or working on the event. |
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