Westport selectwoman’s labor of love rewarded
Kane elected as delegate for Democratic National Convention
WESTPORT — For Selectwoman Melissa Kane, the political world has long been a labor of love.
In 1992, fresh out of college, Kane said she worked as a volunteer for the National Democratic Institute — a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democracies worldwide. She said her role with the organization allowed her to attend the Democratic National Convention that year where she saw political figures like the late Mario Cuomo, former governor of New York, and the late Ann Richards, former governor of Texas.
“It made a huge impression,” Kane recalled. “Ever
since then, I’ve been involved in one way or another with Democrat politics.”
Earlier this month, she found out she would be returning to the DNC, but this time as one of the elected delegates for the state’s 4th Congressional District. She will be one of the state’s 75 delegates, not including five alternates.
“I am so excited,” Kane said of her first time being elected a delegate. “I feel like a kid in the candy store.”
She said with the country at an inflection point, she looked forward to nominating former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, in what will be a seminal election.
“I think it’s a historic, and I would argue, the most consequential election of our lifetime,” Kane said.
Connecticut Democratic Party Chairman Nancy DiNardo echoed these sentiments.
“I do think it’s going to be historic,” she said. “Clearly, Democrats have always put people over politics first. I think with the virus you see that.”
DiNardo said she has gone to several conventions in the past.
“It can be very exciting and you get to meet a lot of people,” she said, adding a lot of factors make the convention this year unique.
Several elected officials have also called this the most important election in a lifetime, DiNardo said.
“They’ll say, ‘You have heard that before, but this really is one of the most important elections you’ll have in your lifetime,’ ” DiNardo said.
The job of a delegate isn’t a mystery to Kane. Kane said her uncle — who had been involved in former President Bill Clinton’s campaigns — was a member of the Florida delegation in 1992, the same year Kane volunteered.
“I got to see how the delegates were able to enjoy and experience the convention as well,” she said.
Ever since the experience, she’s been heavily involved in politics — from volunteering in presidential campaigns to driving people to polls on Election Day.
“It started with an interest in national politics, but as I grew and as I learned, it became so evident to me that local government is so important,” she said. “The political process at every level is really, really important to be involved in.”
Kane said the convention this year will be done virtually for safety, but she was still excited.
“There’s no doubt this is going to be a highlight of my life,” she said. “Regardless of the fact I won’t be going to Milwaukee, it’s nonetheless still a huge honor.”
Kane said she was especially honored to be one of the few thousand people in the United States representing their districts to cast a vote on behalf of their constituents.
“The importance of this is not lost on me,” she said.
Kane said the level of excitement around conventions can also be inspiring.
“When you watch the conventions on TV, the delegates go and wear buttons and they really get into it. It’s like a huge political four-day rally,” she said.
“It’s a level of excitement that you don’t get in a lot of other things.”
She said while the experience will be new to her, the electronic format will be new for everybody.
“It’s historic for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the state of the world and the state of our country, but also that it’s being done electronically,” Kane said. “It’s new to everyone, but I can’t wait.”