Each year the Democratic Leadership Council's (DLC) National Conversation brings together rising political stars from every corner of America to hear from leading national voices and to discuss the ideas that will shape the country's future. This event is a one-of-a-kind forum for governors and other statewide elected officials, legislators, mayors, county executives, council members, and business and civic leaders to come together on a national platform to compare notes and brainstorm innovative strategies for governing in their states and communities.
The DLC was founded in 1985 to reconnect Democrats with mainstream values and economic aspirations, and to reinvigorate progressive politics with a new generation of ideas. Its continuing mission is to modernize progressive politics and the nation's governing agenda, to cultivate new leaders, and to reinforce fundamental progressive values by developing innovative ideas and modern means to advance them.
Since its inception in 1997, the DLC National Conversation has attracted an increasing number of participants. Last year's event in Phoenix was attended by several hundred elected officials and hundreds of business and civic leaders.
The DLC chose Columbus as the site for the 2005 National Conversation in no small part because it is -- as the last election showed -- the capital of America's definitive political battleground state. Ohio is also a quintessentially American place, with a rich array of big and medium-sized cities, old and new suburbs, stable Main Street towns, and rural areas that range from Appalachia to the great Midwestern farm belt. Moreover, Ohio is a state where Republicans have been regularly winning statewide contests. Ohio Democrats look forward to the immediate future as a turning point for their party and their state, and the DLC wants this National Conversation to serve as a turning point for Democrats nationally.
The General Session on Monday, July 25th will be open to the press. Media interested in attending the 2005 DLC National Conversation should contact the DLC press office at (202)546-0007.
