Betty Ann and I attended the Republican state convention last week as delegates. Sunday, visiting with relatives, we were struck that WABI TV was reporting Ted Cruz supporters had “stacked the deck” against Donald Trump. That was not characteristic of what we saw and it’s not a description of the process we participated in. Let there be no doubt, however: We went to the convention as Cruz supporters and others went as Trump or Kasich supporters.

As the Bristol Delegation Chair, I had received information beforehand which I shared with the town committee. That included the convention agenda, the list of candidates for Delegates to Cleveland along with their write-ups, and instructions regarding seating. I spent Thursday reading the 200 delegate candidates’ bios I’d downloaded from the GOP website and making (not sharing) the list of the delegates I intended to vote for. We drove to Bangor early Friday, got our credentials, picked up our convention kits, reported to the convention floor, and joined the Lincoln County delegation. As we made our way to the floor we noted the predominance of Trump signs posted on the walls while Cruz staffers greeted us along the walk and distributed their list of candidates for delegate to the national convention and gave us stickers to identify ourselves as Cruz supporters.

We made our way to the area designated for Lincoln County and spent the next few minutes organizing by town and chatting with other delegates, legislators we knew, and several Cruz delegates asking for our vote. The convention was called to order and we voted on proposed changes to the party platform after alternately hearing from proponents and opponents of each change. After lunch, the convention broke into county caucus rooms to elect the folks who would run the caucus and then the state committeewoman and state committeeman. Friday evening, we found ourselves at the hotel bar chatting with Trump supporters. Nobody made any effort to convince anyone else but we did state our reasons for supporting our candidate and then moved on to a pleasant and informative discussion of present and past legislation, candidates, conventions, and party officials.

After breakfast Saturday morning, we joined the first district caucus where we gathered by county to vote for district delegates and alternates. As we entered, Cruz volunteers handed out an updated list of Cruz delegates to account for those who had withdrawn. We saw no Trump or Kasich volunteers outside the caucus room but inside we were given a “unity ticket” list, supposedly supported by all three candidates. I stepped back outside to check with the Cruz volunteers who emphatically told us they had no part in creating that list and did not support it. We checked it and found no commonality although we wasted little time before discarding the “unity ticket” list. After the tedious nomination process, ballots were distributed and we voted for three District 1 Delegates. Voting for the alternates was delayed because it much longer to tabulate the votes than had been allowed. Once the delegate results were announced, voting for alternates was completed and we adjourned to the convention floor, about two hours behind schedule.

After several keynote speeches, the results of the district caucus voting were announced: District 1 had elected Governor LePage, two Cruz delegates and two Cruz alternates. As I recall, Cruz swept District 2 voting. Voting then proceeded for “at large” delegates. We had our Cruz list, others had the “unity ticket” or the “victory 2016” list, and several Trump volunteers walked the aisles carrying posters with their 14 preferred delegate candidates. After selecting 14 candidates on our four-page ballot, there were more speeches, including an excellent call for unity by Gov. LePage before the results were announced and voting for alternates began: The Cruz list had prevailed. We left at 7 p.m. before alternates were known.

What I found stunning was, after participating in an entirely civil and orderly convention, news media reported the deck had been “stacked.” It was disappointing to me that some delegates came to the convention without having considered who they intended to vote for. They had done no homework, were confused, and were asking others who to vote for. With 14 candidates to select from a four-page ballot in about 15 minutes, it was far too late to give them any useful help or advice.

Those who supported Trump remain my friends and neighbors and they are good, thoughtful, informed Republicans. I did not see and do not believe anything happened to “stack the deck” in Bangor. Cruz volunteers were better organized and Cruz supporters were more numerous and better prepared. If that’s unfair or corrupt in your view; We disagree, neighbor. Whatever happens in Cleveland, I will follow Governor LePage in supporting whoever is nominated to defeat Hillary Clinton.

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Another View, a Maine Press Association award-winning column, is written on a rotating basis by a member of a group of Midcoast citizens that meet to discuss issues they think are of public interest.