Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will give the keynote address at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner tomorrow, Saturday, May 2nd at the Durham Marriott Convention Center . The dinner starts at 7:00 p.m . This will be Gov. Kaine’s first appearance at a Jefferson-Jackson dinner since becoming Chair of the DNC in January. During his remarks, Kaine will discuss the momentum of the Democratic Party in North Carolina , the importance of the Tar Heel state in the 2008 election, the importance of the Senate race in North Carolina in 2010, and the accomplishments of President Obama and the Democratic Congress.

Source:Gov. Kaine to deliver keynote at North Carolina's Jefferson-Jackson dinner tomorrow

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will give the keynote address at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner tomorrow, Saturday, May 2nd at the Durham Marriott Convention Center . The dinner starts at 7:00 p.m . This will be Gov. Kaine’s first appearance at a Jefferson-Jackson dinner since becoming Chair of the DNC in January. During his remarks, Kaine will discuss the momentum of the Democratic Party in North Carolina , the importance of the Tar Heel state in the 2008 election, the importance of the Senate race in North Carolina in 2010, and the accomplishments of President Obama and the Democratic Congress.

Source:Gov. Kaine to deliver keynote at North Carolina's Jefferson-Jackson dinner tomorrow

On April 26 the California Democratic Party elected John Burton as its chairman. Burton has a long resume of serving Californians in the State Assembly, State Senate and the House of Representatives. Via the California Democratic Party’s website is this bio on John Burton;

John Burton is widely considered one of the most effective and experienced legislative leaders in the State of California – if not the nation. He began his career as a Deputy Attorney General, served as the President of the Young Democrats, and won election to the County Central Committee. He then served as a State Assemblymember, President of the California Democratic Council, Chair of the California Democratic Party, U.S. Congressmember and as President pro Tem of the California State Senate. After being termed-out of the Legislature, he created a foundation which has raised millions of dollars to assist homeless and foster care children across California.

With a consistent 100% voting record throughout his career from environmental, labor, and human rights organizations, the California Journal wrote: “Burton is trying to do right by some of the least among us…. There’s a sense that he’s not wielding or exercising power for the sake of power itself; the things he’s trying to do have a real purpose behind them.”

John Burton wrote the laws that make California better:

• Established landmark farm mediation for farm workers and the UFW;
• Achieved DNA testing to free the wrongly convicted and help identify guilty parties
• Secured prevailing wage rates for construction and building trades and restored the 8-hour day;
• Guaranteed CalGrant college scholarships for every student with financial need;
• Led the effort in the State Senate to pass the nation’s first state law requiring automakers to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from cars;
• Increased aid for the elderly, blind and disabled;
• Facilitated agreement to save Headwaters Forest Preserve and Farallones Marine Sanctuary; prohibited offshore oil drilling along the Point Reyes seashore;
• Enacted historic levels of support for mental health and juvenile crime prevention programs;
• Overhauled the state’s flawed child support collection system;
• Increased affordable housing and helped fight homelessness with a $2.1 billion bond issue; and
• Set tough campaign contribution limits and increased public disclosure of contributions.

You can learn more about the California Democratic Party at their website http://www.cadem.org.

You can read more about John Burton and the state party at calitics.com one of the credentialed blogs from the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Source:Meet the California Democratic Party's new chairman, John Burton

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will give the keynote address at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner tomorrow, Saturday, May 2nd at the Durham Marriott Convention Center . The dinner starts at 7:00 p.m . This will be Gov. Kaine’s first appearance at a Jefferson-Jackson dinner since becoming Chair of the DNC in January. During his remarks, Kaine will discuss the momentum of the Democratic Party in North Carolina , the importance of the Tar Heel state in the 2008 election, the importance of the Senate race in North Carolina in 2010, and the accomplishments of President Obama and the Democratic Congress.

Source:Gov. Kaine to deliver keynote at North Carolina's Jefferson-Jackson dinner tomorrow

On April 26 the California Democratic Party elected John Burton as its chairman. Burton has a long resume of serving Californians in the State Assembly, State Senate and the House of Representatives. Via the California Democratic Party’s website is this bio on John Burton;

John Burton is widely considered one of the most effective and experienced legislative leaders in the State of California – if not the nation. He began his career as a Deputy Attorney General, served as the President of the Young Democrats, and won election to the County Central Committee. He then served as a State Assemblymember, President of the California Democratic Council, Chair of the California Democratic Party, U.S. Congressmember and as President pro Tem of the California State Senate. After being termed-out of the Legislature, he created a foundation which has raised millions of dollars to assist homeless and foster care children across California.

With a consistent 100% voting record throughout his career from environmental, labor, and human rights organizations, the California Journal wrote: “Burton is trying to do right by some of the least among us…. There’s a sense that he’s not wielding or exercising power for the sake of power itself; the things he’s trying to do have a real purpose behind them.”

John Burton wrote the laws that make California better:

• Established landmark farm mediation for farm workers and the UFW;
• Achieved DNA testing to free the wrongly convicted and help identify guilty parties
• Secured prevailing wage rates for construction and building trades and restored the 8-hour day;
• Guaranteed CalGrant college scholarships for every student with financial need;
• Led the effort in the State Senate to pass the nation’s first state law requiring automakers to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from cars;
• Increased aid for the elderly, blind and disabled;
• Facilitated agreement to save Headwaters Forest Preserve and Farallones Marine Sanctuary; prohibited offshore oil drilling along the Point Reyes seashore;
• Enacted historic levels of support for mental health and juvenile crime prevention programs;
• Overhauled the state’s flawed child support collection system;
• Increased affordable housing and helped fight homelessness with a $2.1 billion bond issue; and
• Set tough campaign contribution limits and increased public disclosure of contributions.

You can learn more about the California Democratic Party at their website http://www.cadem.org.

You can read more about John Burton and the state party at calitics.com one of the credentialed blogs from the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Source:Meet the California Democratic Party's new chairman, John Burton

Mike Tate’s career in Democratic organizing began at a very early age. When in 4th grade, he helped Michael Dukakis score an upset victory in his school’s mock election. Two years later, Tate was begging his mother to drive him down to Tom Loftus’ gubernatorial campaign office, where he would help stuff envelopes after school.

In 1998, Mike worked as a volunteer for Senator Russ Feingold’s reelection campaign, and then became very active with the College Democrats, serving as Chair of the College Democrats of Wisconsin and Vice President of the College Democrats of America. Mike has worked for Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Governor Jim Doyle, and AFSCME Council 40. In 2003, Mike served as the Wisconsin State Director for Dean for America . He also served as the Deputy State Director for America Coming Together, overseeing one of the largest grassroots voter mobilization efforts in Wisconsin political history.

In the 2006 election cycle, Mike managed the Fair Wisconsin campaign, overseeing the effort to defeat the constitutional amendment banning civil unions and marriage. Fair Wisconsin was one of the largest anti-amendment campaigns ever mounted, raising a historic $5.3 million from over 11,000 individual donors and mobilizing significant progressive turnout in opposition to the constitutional amendment.

Most recently, Mike directed Advancing Wisconsin, a vast voter mobilization effort in 2008, helping boost turnout in key legislative districts and for Barack Obama. Mike received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and currently lives in Milwaukee County with his wife, Amy, a member of the academic staff at the UW-Milwaukee Alumni Association.

Congratulations Mike, the youngest state party chairman of either party. Check out the Wisconsin Democratic Party’s website for more information.

Source:Meet the Wisconsin Democratic Party's new chairman, Mike Tate

On April 26 the California Democratic Party elected John Burton as its chairman. Burton has a long resume of serving Californians in the State Assembly, State Senate and the House of Representatives. Via the California Democratic Party’s website is this bio on John Burton;

John Burton is widely considered one of the most effective and experienced legislative leaders in the State of California – if not the nation. He began his career as a Deputy Attorney General, served as the President of the Young Democrats, and won election to the County Central Committee. He then served as a State Assemblymember, President of the California Democratic Council, Chair of the California Democratic Party, U.S. Congressmember and as President pro Tem of the California State Senate. After being termed-out of the Legislature, he created a foundation which has raised millions of dollars to assist homeless and foster care children across California.

With a consistent 100% voting record throughout his career from environmental, labor, and human rights organizations, the California Journal wrote: “Burton is trying to do right by some of the least among us…. There’s a sense that he’s not wielding or exercising power for the sake of power itself; the things he’s trying to do have a real purpose behind them.”

John Burton wrote the laws that make California better:

• Established landmark farm mediation for farm workers and the UFW;
• Achieved DNA testing to free the wrongly convicted and help identify guilty parties
• Secured prevailing wage rates for construction and building trades and restored the 8-hour day;
• Guaranteed CalGrant college scholarships for every student with financial need;
• Led the effort in the State Senate to pass the nation’s first state law requiring automakers to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from cars;
• Increased aid for the elderly, blind and disabled;
• Facilitated agreement to save Headwaters Forest Preserve and Farallones Marine Sanctuary; prohibited offshore oil drilling along the Point Reyes seashore;
• Enacted historic levels of support for mental health and juvenile crime prevention programs;
• Overhauled the state’s flawed child support collection system;
• Increased affordable housing and helped fight homelessness with a $2.1 billion bond issue; and
• Set tough campaign contribution limits and increased public disclosure of contributions.

You can learn more about the California Democratic Party at their website http://www.cadem.org.

You can read more about John Burton and the state party at calitics.com one of the credentialed blogs from the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Source:Meet the California Democratic Party's new chairman, John Burton

Mike Tate’s career in Democratic organizing began at a very early age. When in 4th grade, he helped Michael Dukakis score an upset victory in his school’s mock election. Two years later, Tate was begging his mother to drive him down to Tom Loftus’ gubernatorial campaign office, where he would help stuff envelopes after school.

In 1998, Mike worked as a volunteer for Senator Russ Feingold’s reelection campaign, and then became very active with the College Democrats, serving as Chair of the College Democrats of Wisconsin and Vice President of the College Democrats of America. Mike has worked for Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Governor Jim Doyle, and AFSCME Council 40. In 2003, Mike served as the Wisconsin State Director for Dean for America . He also served as the Deputy State Director for America Coming Together, overseeing one of the largest grassroots voter mobilization efforts in Wisconsin political history.

In the 2006 election cycle, Mike managed the Fair Wisconsin campaign, overseeing the effort to defeat the constitutional amendment banning civil unions and marriage. Fair Wisconsin was one of the largest anti-amendment campaigns ever mounted, raising a historic $5.3 million from over 11,000 individual donors and mobilizing significant progressive turnout in opposition to the constitutional amendment.

Most recently, Mike directed Advancing Wisconsin, a vast voter mobilization effort in 2008, helping boost turnout in key legislative districts and for Barack Obama. Mike received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and currently lives in Milwaukee County with his wife, Amy, a member of the academic staff at the UW-Milwaukee Alumni Association.

Congratulations Mike, the youngest state party chairman of either party. Check out the Wisconsin Democratic Party’s website for more information.

Source:Meet the Wisconsin Democratic Party's new chairman, Mike Tate

Wyoming Vice-Chairman Mike Bell was born in Washington State but grew up in Minnesota. Mike caught the “political bug” when he was only eleven years old, when he called the Carter/Mondale campaign to see if he could volunteer at the Campaign headquarters. Since then, he has worked on a number of local, state and national campaigns – some in a paid capacity, and other campaigns as a volunteer. An accomplished author, Mike has written about PT209 – the boat John F. Kennedy was on in WWII. The book later was adopted into a documentary on the topic. Mike holds a BA in Political Science and holds two MA’s: one in History and one in Teaching. Mike, an avid Boston Red Sox fan is the proud father of a two year old son.

Visit the Wyoming Democratic Party’s website

Source:Meet the Wyoming Democratic Party's vice chairman, Mike Bell

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, will give the keynote address at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner tomorrow, Saturday, May 2nd at the Durham Marriott Convention Center . The dinner starts at 7:00 p.m . This will be Gov. Kaine’s first appearance at a Jefferson-Jackson dinner since becoming Chair of the DNC in January. During his remarks, Kaine will discuss the momentum of the Democratic Party in North Carolina , the importance of the Tar Heel state in the 2008 election, the importance of the Senate race in North Carolina in 2010, and the accomplishments of President Obama and the Democratic Congress.

Source:Gov. Kaine to deliver keynote at North Carolina's Jefferson-Jackson dinner tomorrow