By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — If you’re looking for Kannapolis resident Veleria Levy this week, you’ll find her in Philadelphia.

Levy will be attending the 2016 Democratic National Convention as a delegate for Hillary Clinton and a “delegate whip.” It’s her second time as a delegate to a Democratic National Convention. In 2012 she attended the convention in Charlotte. Her parents have been delegates too.

She called the 2016 convention the “Super Bowl of politics.”

“The exciting thing for me is that it’s really where you get to make the decisions and see the party platform come into play,” she said. “You see what the party stands for when it’s voting on the issues … you really feel like you’re a part of the movement.”

Levy is the NC Democratic Party’s second vice-chair and has served as the chair of Rowan County’s Democratic Party. She works in Salisbury as an account executive for MedExpress Pharmacy.

At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, she will cast a vote for Clinton to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee. As a “delegate whip,” Levy said she will also be responsible for a group of 10 or more other North Carolina delegates. She planned to leave for Philadelphia on Saturday.

Clinton’s presumed nomination is an important part of the convention, but Levy said she’ll also attend various caucus meetings and participate in individual committee meetings as part of the week’s events. Prominent political figures will also speak.

Levy mentioned the Democratic Party platform drafting process when asked about important parts of this year’s convention. Although candidates may have various opinions, she said the platform tells voters basic facts about what Democrats believe.

“If you’re doing your due diligence, you should always read the party platform,” she said.

For Rowan County voters who want to attend a national convention, Levy recommended getting involved at the county-party level. By attending county meetings, Levy said Rowan residents would become familiar with the political process and become familiar to others in the party.

“Everything really starts at the grassroots level,” she said.

Levy was elected at the North Carolina Democratic Party Convention in June as a bound delegate, which means she’s required to vote for the candidate to whom she’s assigned. There are also “superdelegates” who participate in the nominating process for Democratic Party candidates.

“Superdelegates” aren’t bound to a particular candidate. They are often party leaders and elected officials. Clinton has received commitments from a majority of superdelegates.

During the March 15 Democratic Party presidential primary, Clinton won North Carolina with 54 percent of the vote. Second-place finisher Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., received about 40 percent of the vote.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246