June 26, 2008

Statewide Initiative to Involve Colorado Residents, Bring Convention Experience to Local Communities

DENVER – With the 2008 Democratic National Convention just 60 days away and excitement continuing to build throughout the state and region, the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC), in partnership with Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. and Kansas Governor and Convention Co-Chair Kathleen Sebelius, today announced a “Convention Captains” program inviting community leaders statewide to engage residents throughout Colorado in this historic regional opportunity. Local activists selected as Convention Captains will encourage residents to participate in the Convention by coordinating watch parties, service projects and other community events.

“Colorado is proud to host to the Convention, which will shine a spotlight on all the things that make our state so great. I am pleased that the DNCC has made a long-term, sustained effort to involve the entire Rocky Mountain region in this historic event,” Gov. Ritter said.  “The Convention Captains program will provide an opportunity for every county in the state to be a part of this historic event.”

Convention Captains will organize and host watch parties where families, friends and neighbors can come together in counties throughout Colorado as Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination for President of the United States on Thursday, August 28. Each Convention Captain will be issued a “playbook” arming them to serve as a local ambassador for the four-day event and providing them with helpful tips for planning and hosting a successful watch party and other events to engage their community in the Convention.

“There is no question that the great state of Colorado will play a crucial role in the general election come November,” said Convention Co-Chair Governor Sebelius. “The ‘Convention Captains’ program will highlight our efforts to engage new communities in this region and really provide a platform to showcase what our Party has to offer.  After all, the goal of this program is to reach beyond the Convention hall, just as Barack Obama has done throughout the primary season by bringing new people in to the political process.”

Sebelius has served as the Governor of Kansas since 2003 and is former Chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Along with Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Sebelius will be nominated as Permanent Co-Chair of the Convention in August. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California will be nominated to serve as Permanent Chair of the Convention. Selected as a group exemplifying the new kind of leadership the Democratic Party is bringing to our country at all levels, 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.

In line with the Democratic Party’s commitment to giving back and the Convention’s Delegate Service Day taking place at dozens of sites in the Denver metro area on Wednesday, August 27, Convention Captains will organize service projects in their respective communities. Collectively, the Denver event and the statewide projects will serve as the capstone to a broader DNCC service effort. In an effort to give back to the host city, Convention leaders and staff have participated in ten “DNCC Service Days,” contributing more than 650 hours to a variety of local efforts centered on youth, the environment and the combined issues of hunger and homelessness.

“From the beginning, we made a commitment to making this the most inclusive Convention in history and a moment that the entire Rocky Mountain West can celebrate together,” said Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the DNCC. “By creating opportunities for people to come together for this momentous occasion, our Convention Captains will be at the forefront of our efforts to bring more people into this experience than ever before.”

Local elected officials and Democratic Party County Chairs assisted the DNCC in selecting the Convention Captains. To date, 15 leaders have been selected for the program. During the coming weeks, Captains will continue to be identified to represent each of the 64 counties in Colorado.  To allow local residents to learn more about activities planned in their communities, the names and contact information for each captain will be posted at DemConvention.com.

The “Convention Captains” program is one of many DNCC initiatives designed to engage the greater Colorado community in the lead-up to and during the Convention.  Other programs include “Convention Conversations,” where the DNCC traveled throughout the region to answer questions and offer information to local residents and businesses; the “Write to Lead” essay contest for Colorado middle and high school students; the Citizen Photo Journalism Initiative, where local residents submitted photos of people and places that represent the spirit of the Rocky Mountain West; and high-definition gavel- to- gavel live streaming video of the Convention program.

2008 Convention Captains*

*Additional Captains will be appointed in the coming weeks representing all 64 counties in Colorado.