CO-HOSTS: Maryland Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley

The DLC's 4th Annual National Conversation brought together approximately 170 New Democrat elected officials from across the United States to address new approaches to public policy for the millennium.

The two-day event featured a kick-off speech by Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley on the first day, and keynote addresses by Maryland Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on the first day and Vice President Al Gore on the second day.

Transcripts

• Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley opened the event, welcoming the group to Baltimore and describing the city's efforts to develop a "Digital Harbor."

• DLC President Al From addressed the future of the New Democrat movement.
• Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend keynoted the first day of the conference with a major policy address on the rapidly changing nature of state and local economic development strategies in the New Economy.
• Panel Discussions:
  1. Preserving Quality of Life in the New Economy with Prince Georges County (MD) Executive Wayne Curry, and New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial.
  2. Preparing People and Communities in the New Economy with Montgomery County (MD) Executive Doug Duncan; Delaware Lt. Governor Ruth Ann Minner; and Phillip Singerman, Maryland Technology Development Corporation
  3. Governing in the New Economy with Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley; Delaware State Treasurer Jack Markell; and Karen Robinson of Govtonline.com.
  4. Innovators Roundtable with New Democrat Mayors with PPI President Will Marshall, Austin (TX) Mayor Kirk Watson and Bethlehem (PA) Mayor Don Cunningham.
• Vice President Al Gore keynoted the second day, summarizing his message to the American people in language very familiar to New Democrats.

Slide Presentations

• DLC President Al From on "The Next Politics"
• Rob Atkinson, director of the Progressive Policy Institute's Technology & New Economy Project, on state economic development strategies for the New Economy.