CHARLOTTE – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today
announced that Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Debbie
Wasserman Schultz will nominate Los Angeles Mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa
Permanent Chair of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. DNC
Chair Wasserman Schultz’s nomination of Mayor Villaraigosa will be
presented to the Convention Rules Committee and then voted on by the
delegates to the 2012 Convention at the opening session.
DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz, Mayor Villaraigosa and DNCC CEO Steve
Kerrigan will discuss the announcement on a conference call TODAY at
12:20 EST/9:20 PST.
“Mayor Villaraigosa has dedicated his career to civic engagement and
empowering people at the grassroots,” said DNC Chair Wasserman
Schultz. “And that’s exactly what we need to be successful at
this convention—input and engagement from Americans across the country.”
The Permanent Chair presides over the convention proceedings, ensuring
order, decorum and efficiency as the party nominates its presidential
and vice presidential candidates, adopts the national platform and
conducts other important business. The Permanent Chair also acts
as another national spokesperson for the convention.
“It’s an honor to be nominated as Permanent Chair of the convention,”
said Mayor Villaraigosa. “The president began his journey five years
ago with a conversation—friends reaching out to neighbors and families
talking around the dinner table. At this convention we want to
engage Americans in a conversation about how we can strengthen the
country in a way that creates more opportunity for all.”
The DNCC will also release a web video today with
Mayor Villaraigosa calling on people to raise their voice and let
convention planners know what they can do to make the 2012 Democratic
National Convention more open and accessible. People can
share ideas and watch the web video
here.
The DNCC announced in late January changes in format and venue that
will allow tens of thousands more people to be engaged in the
convention. Convention week will open with a family-friendly
Labor Day event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Monday, September 3,
that will be open to people from across the region and around the
country. Delegates will vote on Mayor Villaraigosa’s nomination
at the convention’s opening session and he will preside over convention
proceedings at Time Warner Cable Arena, on Tuesday, September 4, and
Wednesday, September 5. And on Thursday September 6, the
President will accept the nomination at Bank of America Stadium, where
once again, the public will be invited to attend.
As a high school student, Villaraigosa volunteered with the farm
workers movement and led student walkouts. Before he was elected to
public office he worked as a union organizer. Villariagosa is
currently serving in his second term as Mayor of Los Angeles, and also
serves as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.