When Darryl Grennell was elected to represent Mississippi at this week’s Democratic National Convention, he felt a chill down his spine. It’s a feeling he takes with him to Los Angeles as a delegate to the convention that will nominate Vice President Al Gore for president.

&uot;I was dumbfounded,&uot; Grennell said of his election to delegate. &uot;How do people all across the state of Mississippi know me enough to vote for me? It sent a chill down my spine when I&160;was elected.&uot;

Along with Grennell, Natchez Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux, who is also a member of the Democratic National Committee, will serve as delegates.

Beverly Merrill of Natchez will serve as an alternate delegate.

Grennell, an Adams County supervisor, said he is privileged to represent Mississippi — and Adams County — at the convention. At the May state Democratic convention, he was elected from 24 nominees for the male at-large delegate position.

&uot;Theoretically it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,&uot; Grennell said. &uot;Here we’ve got this little fellow from Natchez and Adams County who’s one of a few delegates from Mississippi at the national convention.&uot;

Grennell said he is also looking forward to the &uot;camaraderie of all the Democrats.&uot;

&uot;I’m looking forward to listening to the speakers.,&uot; he said .&uot;I want to hear the Democratic speeches on health care and education. My major area of focus is in terms of those issues.&uot;

Arceneaux said much of the &uot;drama&uot; of the convention has been removed – Gore’s nomination is all but decided, and his pick for a running mate, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, was announced last Monday.

But Arceneaux, choir director at Natchez High School and a former president of the Mississippi Association of Educator, said she is still looking forward to seeing which direction the party platform takes.

&uot;Educators are there to ensure free public education is at the forefront of the platform,&uot; she said.

&uot;We want to keep the ‘public’ in quality education and keep the ‘quality’ in public education.&uot;