Lennox elected to attend Republican National Convention
Dennis Lennox II has been elected by the Michigan Republican Party to attend the 2008 Republican National Convention.
The Topinabee senior was elected at the Michigan Republican Party Convention earlier this year to represent the 1st Congressional District.
He is the first Central Michigan University student in recent years to attend the convention.
"It's a unique opportunity that few people get, especially a college student at CMU," Lennox said.
He will be acting as an alternate delegate, which means he will vote on the convention floor when Kevin Elsenheimer, R-Bellaire, is unavailable.
"It will be intimidating at first, but it will be exciting," Lennox said.
Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saulius Anuzis said the congressional district delegation elects delegates. He said overall there will be 60 delegates representing Michigan.
Anuzis is familiar with young delegates attending the convention.
"In 1980 I attended the convention, I was 19," he said.
He said every alternate will get to participate because the delegates are told not to vote the entire time. He will also get to record a vote for presumptive Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain.
The main point of the convention, he said, is to decide the party's platform and rules, and do everyday party business such as listening to testimony of around 1,200 advocacy groups.
"There will be 20,000 people there, so it's an honor and privilege to be one," Lennox said.
He said he hopes McCain chooses Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, as his running mate. Lennox met Romney while working on his campaign.
"That's the one person I'm looking forward to seeing again," he said.
Campus Conservatives Vice President John Klumpp, a Wyoming sophomore, said this will be an experience of a lifetime for Lennox.
"I think it's good for the university, the fact that kids are involved in politics and have a passion for politics to go to a thing like the Republican National Convention," Klumpp said.
He said since Lennox has been so involved with politics, he will especially enjoy the experience.
"While he's there, I just hope personally he has an experience of a lifetime and enjoys every moment," Klumpp said. "I hope he takes it all in."
Lennox's political career includes helping with Romney's campaign and working on President George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign.
This April, he ended his run for a seat in the Michigan House of Representatives when incumbent Elsenheimer decided to regain his position in House District 105.
News Editor Angie Favot contributed to this article.
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