[Postcard sent out following submission of the bid].

Denver Host Committee Celebrates Submitting Proposal for 2008 Democratic National Convention

 May 18, 2006, Denver, CO…Supporters, host committee members and friends will gather at the Capital Grille, Friday, May 19, 2006 from 6 to 8 pm to celebrate the submission of a proposal to the Democratic National Committee for Denver to host the Democratic National Convention in 2008. The submission follows weeks of preparation by the committee and community members to answer an extensive RFP sent from the Democratic National Committee in Washington, D.C. Co-chairs for the committee are City Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth, National Civic League president Chris Gates, RTD board member Juanita Chacon and Steve Farber of Brownstein, Hyatt and Farber.
 
 “The host committee provides great leadership for the effort to bring the DNC to Denver,” says Juanita Chacon, co-chair of the host committee.  “We knew we needed strong community input to put together a competitive bid and jumpstart the necessary fundraising efforts.”

“We continue to obtain support for this initiative from across the city, state and the region because everyone understands it is important for jobs and our economy,” continued Elbra Wedgeworth, co-chair of the host committee.

 Denver is one of six cities vying for the 2008 Convention.  The other cities are Detroit, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New Orleans, and New York City.  In April, Denver city officials and host committee members held a reception at the spring meeting of the Democratic National Committee in New Orleans.

 “We have everything the Democratic National Committee is looking for in a host city,” says Steve Farber of Brownstein Hyatt and Farber, co-chair of the host committee.  “We were a serious contender in 2000, and since that time we have built a bigger convention center, more hotels and improved downtown facilities.  We believe we should be the front runner this time around.”

A 10-member Technical Advisory Committee appointed by DNC National Chair Howard Dean will review the most recent submittal and announce which cities merit site visits, to be scheduled between June and August 2006.  The final host city will be announced by the end of the year.

“This convention is a huge economic development opportunity for the Denver metro area,” says Chris Gates, host committee co-chair and president of the National Civic League.  “It will bring the city international recognition, and draw 30,000 delegates, media representatives and visitors to Denver to see first-hand that we are a world class city.”

In addition to the four co-chairs, the host committee includes regional business, labor, tourism and political leaders.  Kamlet, Shepherd and Reichert partner Willie Shepherd serves as finance chair; Colorado Democratic Party First Vice Chair Dan Slater serves as vice chair; City Council President Rosemary Rodriguez serves as secretary; and Plasticomm Industries President Ron Montoya serves as treasurer.  All funds for the Denver 2008 host committee are raised through donations and sponsorships, using no taxpayer funds.