A most unlikely Oskaloosa resident is in Denver at the Democratic National Convention this week, erasing more than 30 years of lack of participation from anyone in Oskaloosa to a national Democrat convention.

At-large delegate R.J. Jarvis, 23, originally from Southfield, Mich., left Oskaloosa by automobile Friday night for Denver, Colo., for the four-day Democratic National Convention. Friday afternoon, Jarvis explained his support for Barack Obama, the delegate selection process and his future plans.

“When I first went out in to the caucus, the whole room was Hillary and Edwards supporters,” he said, which raised his concerns for Obama’s viability. “And I said to myself, ‘You know what, I’m behind what he stands for and I don’t know if he’s going to make it out of here, but I support him none the less.’”

Jarvis will join Iowa’s other 56 delegates and eight alternates and stand untied behind Obama, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan said.

“Iowa Democrats are united behind our great nominee, Sen. Barack Obama,” Brennan said in a July press release. “Our delegation is excited to formally nominate Sen. Obama at what will be a historic and energizing national convention.”

Jarvis said he began following presidential politics in 2004, drawn in by the enthusiasm young people exhibited to change the course of the country. He said the quality of candidates since 2004 has increased.

“But what I saw was that there really wasn’t a candidate that they could get exited about. And a lot of people that year were talking about voting for the lesser of two evils,” he said. “And I think in a country as great as the United States, it’s a sad thing to hear that your presidential choice is coming down to who wouldn’t do as bad of a job.”

Jarvis said the delegate selection process started on caucus night, where he promptly asked for the position. From there it went to the county and district conventions and then to the Iowa Democratic Party’s state convention in June, where he competed against 22 other candidates — including Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba and State Sen. Bob Dvorsky, of Coralville — to win a single slot for a male Obama delegate.

“I pretty much had everything working against but I think I’ve got God on my side,” he said. “I said a couple quick prayers. There was actually a religious convention going on right next door to the state convention and some ladies came out and prayed over me. It was really amazing.”

Jarvis said he was the underdog.

“A 23-year-old kid coming out of a town like Oskaloosa with 10,000 people and going up against 22 other people from Des Moines, Davenport, and other towns … what else can you credit it to?” he asked. “People have been campaigning since February and I came in here that day and was able to strike a cord with these people and pretty much trumped well established relationships for the last trip to Denver.”

Jarvis said he hasn’t ruled out a career in politics. He said he wants to improve people’s lives through information.

“That’s what it’s really all about,” he said. “And I’d like that have be a staple of what I do in my life. Whether that or not requires a public office to do so, I don’t know. But if it did, I would differently be interested in it.”

Log on to www.geocities.com\ssatt11384\index to read up on Jarvis’ journey so far and his time in Denver.

Jarvis came to Oskaloosa in 2002 to attend William Penn University. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in communications and fine arts and now he works as senior producer for Communication Research Institute.