Mathis to serve as convention delegate for Trump

Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis will be heading to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to serve as a delegate during the nomination of former President Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for president.

Mathis said he was contacted by the Trump campaign on Feb. 21 about running for a delegate position. They have three delegates and three alternates. Six people were approved by the Trump campaign to run for the delegate positions, but only five submitted qualifying petitions. Vote count determines who is a delegate and who is an alternate.

“I honestly didn’t expect to be chosen as a delegate,” Mathis said. “I was very surprised, I wasn’t anticipating being in the top three, let alone getting the second highest number of votes.”

The delegates represent the First Congressional District, which is served by Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger. Mathis received 28,514 votes.

Because of the size of the Congressional District, most delegates reside in the Tri-Cities area, which has a larger population. This is only the second time in recent history that a Cocke Countian has been selected to serve at the RNC as a delegate for a presidential candidate. Claire Crouch served as a delegate for Ted Cruz during his 2016 campaign, attending the RNC in Cleveland, Ohio, that year.

Mathis will be leaving Sunday for Wisconsin, and he pointed out that he will personally be covering the cost associated with the trip. He will be accompanied by his wife Missy and daughter Isabelle. The convention concludes on Thursday evening.

“I am very excited about having this honor,” Mathis said. “I hope I get the opportunity to meet President Trump. It is a tremendous privilege to carry the votes of our district to make Donald Trump our nominee.”

Mathis has never attended a convention before and is looking forward to the new experience.

“In my lifetime, if I could choose any president to be a delegate for, it would be Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity to be a delegate for Trump. This is more than just going to a convention. It is playing a part in saving our country,” Mathis said.