FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2008
More than 1,800 Women Join Indiana Women for Obama
INDIANAPOLIS – U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign announced today the kickoff of Indiana Women for Obama, with more than 1,800 women joining the group statewide.
Members of the organization will recruit and organize women across the state for Obama’s grassroots campaign to fundamentally change Washington. Women for Obama is a key part of the campaign’s commitment to engage women from all walks of life.
“Not only have an astounding number of women signed up to help take Barack Obama’s message directly to their friends, neighbors and colleagues in communities across the Hoosier State, we have representation in every region of Indiana,” Cordelia Lewis-Burks, vice chair of the Indiana Democratic Party, Democratic National Committee superdelegate and chairwoman of Indiana Women for Obama, said. “We have found common ground in our belief that Barack Obama is better prepared to lead our nation out of recession, stand up to the special interests and ensure that every American has quality health care.”
Barbara Boyd, Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee, Melina Kennedy, former Indianapolis deputy mayor and former Indiana attorney general Karen Freeman Wilson are among the regional co-chairs of Indiana Women for Obama.
“Indiana women realize that the politics of polarization is not working,” Women for Obama national director Becky Carroll said. “They see it in the rising price of gas and food, the deterioration of the environment and public schools, the cost of health care and a war with no end in sight.
“Women understand that we need a change in Washington to put the country back on track. Barack Obama is committed to a new kind of politics that looks to reach across partisan lines and break the grip of special interests to make progress for Hoosier families.”
Indiana Women for Obama will be conducting a statewide Get-Out-The-Vote initiative May 3-4. Below find the names of the organization’s leadership committee.
Chairwoman
Cordelia Lewis-Burks, Vice Chair, Indiana Democratic Party
Regional Co-Chairs
Melina Kennedy, attorney and former Indianapolis Deputy Mayor
Barbara Boyd, Indiana Broadcasters Hall of Fame inductee
Karen Freeman Wilson, former Indiana Attorney General
State Senator Earline Rogers
State Representative Mara Reardon
State Representative Linda Lawson
State Representative Vanessa Summers
Superior Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt
Maye L. Johnson, Allen County Councilwoman
Mary Alice Gregg, Park County Treasurer
Cherrish Pryor, Indianapolis City Councilwoman
Karen Goldner, Ft. Wayne City Councilwoman
Constance Robinson, President, Evansville City Council
Priscilla Scalf, Columbus City Councilwoman
Karen White, South Bend City Councilwoman
Janie Young, Kokomo City Councilwoman
Cheryl Lee, Peru City Councilwoman and VP Miami County Democratic Women’s Caucus
Karen Celestino-Horseman, Former Indianapolis City Councilwoman
Joan M. Smith, Bunker Hill Town Council
Bev Zuber, Wayne Township Assessor
Rosalind Ellis, Asst Superintendent of South Bend Community Schools
Faye Allen, Secretary, Indiana Democratic Party
Mimi Berkshire, Miami County Democratic Party Chair
Carmen Darland, Noble County Democratic Party Chair
Patty Weybright, Whitley County Democratic Party Chair
Janie Jones, Grant County Democratic Party Co-Chair
Sherlonda Anderson, 7th CD Chairwoman
Patricia Avery, President, Vanderburgh County Democratic Women’s Caucus; wife of State Representative Dennis Avery
Heather Maddox, Vice Chair Tippecanoe Democratic Party
Mary Ray, President, Hamilton County Democratic Women’s Caucus
Billy Sue Smith, Former 3-term Chairwoman of the Clark County Democratic Women’s Caucus
Beth Vanet, President Harrison County Young Democrats
Tracy H. Souza, President, Cummins Foundation
Dr. Rae Pearson, President of Alpha Rae Personnel
Connie Thurman, Union Official
Nicole Yates Toran, Floyd County Chapter President, NAACP
Mary Downes, Former Chief of Staff to IN Governor Kernan
Mariama Carson, Marion County Activist and wife of Congressman Andre Carson
Ellen Quigley, Chief of Staff, Congressman Andre Carson
Patricia Weinzapfel, Journalist and wife of Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel
Karen Howe Fernandez, Monroe County Activist and wife of Bloomington Former Mayor John Fernandez
Tara Evans, Marion County Activist and wife of Indianapolis City Councilman Jose Evans
Jackie Nedell, former Clinton Administration official
Melina Fox, OFA National Rural Policy Committee
Kathryn A. Brogan, Attorney and Allen County Activist
Sofia Rodriguez Mirawaldt, Allen County Activist
Paula Jarrett, Bartholomew County Activist
Lenore Hollowell, Bartholomew County Activist
Mary Grabianowski, Boone County Educator
Kathe Ogle, Hendricks County Activist
Patricia Yount, Jennings County Activist
Linda O’Connor, Johnson County Activist
Emily Gutzwiller Vance, Johnson County Activist
Sheila Suess Kennedy, IUPUI Professor and Marion County Activist
Sharon Edwards, Retired School Psychologist and Miami County Activist
Pam Warren, Monroe County Activist
Kelsey Kauffman, Educator and Putnam County Activist
Peg Luecke, St. Joseph County Activist; wife of South Bend Mayor Stephen Luecke
Annette Dungey, St. Joseph County Activist
Gladys Mohammad, St. Joseph County Activist
Margaret B. King, St. Joseph County Activist
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Indiana
for Obama Press Office