Approximately 70 people met Saturday morning at the Edgecombe County Democratic Convention, to choose delegates to attend the district and state conventions.

There are 21 precincts in Edgecombe, at least one delegate had to be present for the meeting to be held. There were 11 present, as well as a number of those who were not delegates.

County Chairwoman Genotre Penny-Boone welcomed the crowd.

"This is an exciting time, an exciting year," she said. "We expect to get great things done."

Tarboro Attorney Charles Rountree, chairman of Edgecombe Count Precinct 1-3, introduced the keynote speaker, state Court of Appeals Judge Jim Wynn.

The charismatic black judge said he was once asked how he had arrived where he is today, from being raised in a poor background in the tobacco fields of North Carolina.

"I was honored and blessed where I came from, not hindered by it," he said.

Wynn set the mood of the convention when he told the story of a young judge who was watched intently on his first day on the bench by an old judge with an impeccable reputation, who sat in the back of his courtroom.

At the end of the day, the old judge approached the new judge, looked him in the eye, and said "You've done great job ... so far."

"The N.C. Court of Appeals usually gives 1,600-1,700 opinions a year," Wynn said. "In contrast, the N.C. Supreme Court gives less than 30."

Wynn said he adds diversity to the Court of Appeals, which has a total of 15 judges, divided into groups of three.

"More than half of the people in the correctional system are African-American," he said. "Those in Edgecombe County would have a different viewpoint than those in Wake County. Judges ought to be fair."

Party Secretary Florence Armstrong said the county had 53 delegates. Two additional people were added during the meeting bringing the total to 55 delegates for the district and state conventions.

The Democratic District Convention will be May 17 at Edgecombe Community College; the State Convention on June 21 in New Bern; and the National Convention will be Aug. 25-28 in Denver.

During the meeting, the Rev. Roosevelt Higgs of Speed enthusiastically spoke up several times, endeavoring to correct the order of the meeting, which obviously flustered Penny-Boone, who said she had read the rules and knew what she was about. She did permit him to speak twice, which is according to order and then asked him to give others a chance to speak.