Local delegates prepare for Republican convention
Republican delegates from across the country are preparing to head to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland next week, including local delegates who will represent the Coachella Valley.
All 2,472 Republican delegates and their alternates will be heading to the Buckeye State for the convention.
Nachhattar Chandi came to the United States 25 years ago from India. Since then he’s become a very successful businessman and now he is a Republican delegate headed to Cleveland on Sunday.
“This is my first convention as a delegate so I am very excited,” said Chandi.
The convention is expected to be quite a spectacle with speeches from politicians and celebrities. Chandi will be supporting the presumptive nominee Donald Trump.
“I like Donald Trump because of his business background and a business is just like running a country. I like his business policy, reforming the EPA and dealing with Obamacare because it is hurting businesses badly,” Chandi said.
Chandi will be going to Ohio with Tom Freeman who works for Chandi and is an alternate delegate. Freeman went to the convention once before in the ’90s as a delegate.
“There is always some potential for disagreement, so it should be interesting not only to be at but be watching the various networks,” Freeman said.
We asked the two men what they thought about Trump picking Indiana Gov. Mike Pence to be his running mate.
“He needed someone who knew Washington and understood state government. Obviously Mr. Trump is a business man, he picked a great person in picking a governor and a former congressman,” said Freeman.
“Pence has a good record and a good history. Trump needs someone with him that knows the inside to work with him,” Chandi said.
Security for the Republican National Convention is expected to extremely tight. Local and federal law enforcement will be in full force with concerns that protests outside the convention could get out of hand.
