By: Marcos Lebron 

Dunkirk Mayor Willie Rosas will have a coveted spot as an Alternate Delegate at next week at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

“I’m blown away,” Rosas said in an interview with the local newspapers. “I’m honored to have been asked to represent the citizens of Dunkirk, Chautauqua and New York State at the National Democratic Convention. And I love that I get to represent the first city in New York State to elect its first Latino/Hispanic mayor in New York State.

Rosas is among more than 291 delegate officials the Hillary Clinton campaign announced will be participating at the convention. He will be the only elected Latino/Hispanic Mayor from New York State.

He began campaigning for Clinton in February, appearing with her at rallies in Western New York ahead of the state’s primary.

“I think without a doubt she’s the most qualified person to ever run for the presidency,” he said. “I think she is misunderstood in many ways. There’s been a lot of money over two, three decades spent trying to get people to dislike her. And she’s survived it all. She’s a fighter. I believe in her agenda that she proposes for America both for the social justice agenda but also her economic agenda.”

Rosas appearance in the convention hall will put the spotlight not only on Dunkirk but on Rosas himself.

“It’s massive,” said Edwin Martinez, a New York State political leader and publisher of local newspapers in Western New York and Pennsylvania and Rosas adviser. “It’s a credential that every rising political figure wants to achieve. And the fact that it’s happening is just tremendous not only for Mayor Rosas but also for the city of Dunkirk and the state of New York.”