Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1999 until 2004, when she was appointed to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission during the Ehrlich administration.
A Baltimore native and a graduate of Villa Julie College (now Stevenson University), Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters before entering the world of politics. She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000 and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention.
Amedori has agreed to write a blog this week for The Baltimore Sun about her experiences. Here's an excerpt from her online diary:
Convention Day 2 - I ride the elevator from the fifth floor to breakfast, and everyone who gets on has a smile. The conversations are about what time to get to the floor of the convention. Some will walk over early and try to catch some of the constant news coverage offered by the cable networks, and perhaps be seen in the background by friends and neighbors. Others will be going on the Minnesota Zephyr, a train ride and luncheon through Stillwater....
The ride on the Zephyr was very nice. There are six miles of track and we traveled at about 6 mph, while being served an elegant luncheon. I had the walleye, a fish native to Canada and the lakes of Minnesota. It was the sweetest fish I ever tasted.
I was seated in the "globe" of the train, which gives a three-dimensional view of the picturesque countryside of Minnesota's first town. This is one of the many side events our delegation chairman, Don Murphy, and Maryland McCain chairman Chris Cavey arranged for us. A nice relaxing afternoon, yet I am antsy. I want to get to the Xcel Center and get this party started....
Once on the floor, Adrienne King, a delegate from Hawaii who served with me on the Platform Committee, adorned me with a fresh lei. ... It is again an all-star lineup as many of the top Republican politicians parade past Maryland. First is our former lieutenant governor, Michael Steele. He is mobbed by delegates from other states seeking pictures and autographs. Michael is well-known and obviously well-loved. He takes a break from his fans and sits with us, hanging and chatting with Marylanders.
Last week, a Maryland delegate to the Democratic convention blogged for The Baltimore Sun.
