Within the same walls of a downtown Buffalo law firm, two partners are spending time this month serving as a delegate or alternate delegate at national political conventions. They're representing rival parties, but both welcome the opportunity to take part in a civic duty while coming from different points of view.
When he first joined Phillips Lytle two decades ago, partner John G. Schmidt, Jr. was encouraged to take part in community service. His participation includes roles with the Boy Scouts, Upstate New York Transplant Services and the Erie County Republican Party.
Fellow partner Craig Bucki, meanwhile, spends times in many capacities including the Town of Amherst and New York State Democratic Committees and at his church, St. Gregory the Great in Williamsville, where he serves on its finance committee.
Both have been selected to appear at their respective parties' national conventions. Schmidt left for Cleveland this past weekend and will participate as an alternate delegate from the 26th Congressional District. He has never done this before, but is excited by the enthusiasm that presumptive nominee Donald Trump has brought to the GOP. Many of his peers, including friends with union connections or friends "with cowboy boots" are coming out to vote this year.
"It was in years past that you never heard this level of energy for the Republican candidate," said Schmidt.
So why the support for Trump? He's an outsider, as the GOP alternate delegate put it, one who emerged from 17 hopefuls at the start of the primary season, all of whom Schmidt feels were qualified candidates.
"Here we have someone that is not a politician, not a career politician, a business person," Schmidt said. "I think that brings a very important perspective to government... the effect a government can have, and by and large I think it's generally a negative effect, on day to day living. I think Donald Trump understands that."
Schmidt was chosen by GOP leadership to serve. Bucki, meanwhile, was chosen by Democratic voters on Primary Day back on April 19. He'll head to Philadelphia next week for that party's national convention. He's fully behind Hillary Clinton and he believes voters will emerge to support her when they take a closer look at her experience, from Secretary of State, First Lady and her years as a U.S. Senator from New York.
When asked about passionate Bernie Sanders supporters who, after months of hearing their candidate call Clinton unqualified for the White House, continue a vow not to support her, Bucki believes many will ultimately change their mind.
"Keep in mind, this is what happens with both parties," Bucki said. "As John said, there were 17 candidates vying for the Republican Party nomination, and at various times you had a variety of candidates who were saying that Donald Trump was not an appropriate candidate to be president."
The first day of the GOP Convention had an interesting development as leaders moved to pass the convention rules over loud protests and objections of anti-Trump Republicans who tried for a roll call. Before he left for Cleveland, WBFO asked Schmidt if he anticipated any major upheavals.
"To use a phrase, 'there you go again,'" Schimdt said with a laugh. "I don't see that happening."
Both partners say the firm strongly encourages civic participation. As Bucki sees it, the firm benefits when its partners go out in different political directions.
"I think the strength of an organization such as Phillips Lytle is its diversity," Bucki said. "We have a lot of diversity of opinion throughout the office, and I think it makes for a better law firm. Because, the only way that you grow as a person is having interaction with people around you who come from different perspectives."
Schmidt agreed, though he did joke about one of the risks of working under such diverse conditions.
"When I've gone down to my garage I haven't seen any Hillary stickers on my truck and I appreciate that," he said. "I'd have to sell the truck."
