Democrats Announce 2008 Convention Chairs

    WASHINGTON, July 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Howard Dean,
 Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, announced today his
 intention to nominate Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California to
 serve as Permanent Chair of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in
 Denver. Dean also announced that three outstanding leaders, Kansas Governor
 Kathleen Sebelius, Chair of the Democratic Governors Association; Texas
 State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, President of the National Conference of
 State Legislatures; and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, President of the
 National Conference of Democratic Mayors, will be nominated as Permanent
 Convention Co- Chairs.
     This distinguished group of strong Democratic leaders from all levels
 of government and all parts of the country exemplifies the vision, values
 and commitment to America's future that the Democratic National Convention
 will showcase in Denver.
     "Our Party is bringing a new kind of leadership to our country at all
 levels," said Governor Dean. "We are extremely fortunate to have such a
 distinguished group of strong Democratic leaders chairing our Convention. I
 want to thank Speaker Pelosi, Governor Sebelius, state Senator Van de Putte
 and Mayor Franklin for their commitment to putting our presidential nominee
 on the path to victory for the November 2008 election."
     The recommendations by Governor Dean will be presented to the
 Convention Rules Committee next summer and then voted on by the delegates
 to the 2008 Convention at the opening session. The Permanent Chair and
 Co-Chairs preside over the Convention proceedings, ensuring order, decorum
 and efficiency as the Party nominates its presidential and vice
 presidential candidates, adopts the National Platform and conducts other
 important business.
     Biographical information about the Permanent Convention Chair and Co-
 Chairs (nominees):
     Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the first woman to serve as Speaker of the U.S.
 House of Representatives. Before assuming this position in January 2007,
 Pelosi served for the last four years as House Democratic Leader and was
 the first woman to lead a major political party in Congress. She has
 represented California's Eighth District since 1987. She served as a member
 of the Democratic National Committee from 1976 to 1996, serving terms as
 Northern Chair and State Chair of the California Democratic Party. She was
 a Vice Chair of the 1996 Democratic National Convention, Co Chair of the
 1992 Democratic Platform Committee and served as Chair of the 1984
 Democratic National Convention Host Committee in San Francisco.
     "It is an honor to serve as Chair of the national convention as
 Democrats from across the country select our candidate who will become the
 next President of the United States," Pelosi said. "At the convention,
 Democrats will share with the American people our priorities and values
 that will take our nation in a new direction."
     Governor Kathleen Sebelius was first sworn in as governor of Kansas in
 January 2003 and in 2005 was named one of America's Five Best Governors by
 Time Magazine. She was re-elected to a second term in 2006 and currently
 serves as Chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Sebelius
 previously served four terms in the Kansas House of Representatives and two
 terms as the state's insurance commissioner.
     "The national convention is one of our best opportunities to share our
 Democratic message of progress with the nation," Sebelius said. "And, it's
 fitting the convention is in our neighboring state, Colorado, home to new
 Democratic Governor Bill Ritter. I look forward to working with my fellow
 chairs to hold a convention that highlights our shared values and which
 brings new voters to the Democratic Party."
     State Senator Leticia Van de Putte is the first Hispanic to serve as
 president of the National Conference of State Legislatures - a position she
 has held since 2006. Representing a large portion of San Antonio, Van de
 Putte has been elected to four terms in the Texas Senate, following five
 terms as a state representative. Since 2003 she has also served as
 Democratic Leader in the Texas Senate.
     "I could not be more proud to serve with these distinguished women as a
 Co-Chair of the National Convention which will nominate the next President
 of the United States," Van de Putte said. "Texas women, including Barbara
 Jordan and Ann Richards, have long served our Party at National
 Conventions, and I'm humbled to be asked to join their ranks."
     Mayor Shirley Franklin has served as Mayor of Atlanta since 2001, when
 she became the first female mayor of Atlanta and the first African American
 woman to serve as mayor of a major southern city. She is the first woman to
 chair the National Conference of Democratic Mayors. Franklin has restored
 financial stability with five balanced budgets and healthy reserves and
 implemented the strongest ethics reform program in the state.
     "It is a great time to be a Democrat!" Franklin said. "Our diverse
 leadership for the convention represents the core values of Democrats
 everywhere. As we prepare for the Democratic National Convention and to
 send our nominee to the White House, we will also showcase the best in our
 party and in America."
     About the DNCC:
     The 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee is the official arm
 of the Democratic National Committee responsible for planning and
 organizing the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.
     Paid for by 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee, Inc.
 http://www.demconvention.com. Not authorized by any candidate or
 candidate's committee.
 
 

SOURCE Democratic National Committee