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Louisiana is expected to vote Republican in the presidential election, but not Mary and Charles Kincade. They’re both delegates to the Democratic National Convention, and that in itself is unusual.
“When we signed up to run,” Charles Kincade said, “we were told it’s very unusual for a husband and wife to both get elected.”
He was a delegate at the 1984 convention, where he supported Jesse Jackson.
“It’s sort of a metaphor in a way of how far the country’s gone,” he said. “At that time people considered an African-American could not be elected to the presidency of the United States. It’s an historic thing to nominate President Obama.”
The Kincades met after the ’84 convention while both volunteered with the Mondale/Ferraro campaign.
“One reason we like Obama, he’s putting education on the front burner,” said Mary Kincade, 63. “That’s crucial for the future of our country.”
Education was an equalizer for Charles Kincade, 51, a civil rights lawyer in Monroe, La. “I grew up very poor,” he said, “but I was the recipient of a good public education. I benefited a lot from Democratic policies.”
Charles and Mary Kincades have been reading up about Charlotte on the Internet.
“Frankly, we were surprised by what we’re learning,” Charles Kincade said. “I did not completely realize that it’s such a major banking center. We’re very excited about exploring it.”
Elizabeth Leland
