The Honorable Mary Rose Oakar
Monday, August 25, 2008 at 03:30 PM Mr. Chairman, I want to welcome Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and everyone from the great state of Ohio to this historic convention. And I especially want to pay tribute to my friend, and the friend of all, the late Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who so passionately represented the people of Cleveland for so many years. She will be greatly missed. The Rules Committee is proud to nominate an outstanding slate to serve as permanent officers of this convention. First, on behalf of the Rules Committee, it is my pleasure to nominate Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to serve as the permanent chair. Since 1987, Nancy Pelosi has represented California’s Eighth District in the U.S. House. She is the first woman to lead a major party in the U.S. Congress and the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House. Speaker Pelosi has been a leader in increasing educational opportunity, protecting workers and promoting health care. To serve as co-chairs of the convention, the Rules Committee has nominated Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas; Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, Chair of the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus; and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. I think it’s wonderful that our convention is being led by these remarkable women. Kathleen Sebelius won election as governor of Kansas in November of 2002, after serving as her state’s insurance commissioner. Her father, my good friend John Gilligan was governor of Ohio from 1971 to 1975. Governor Sebelius has brought a fiscally disciplined, people-oriented approach to state government. Senator Leticia Van de Putte, a pharmacist for more than 28 years, is currently serving her fourth term as a Texas State Senator. She has been actively involved in the National Conference of State Legislatures, serving as president from 2006 to 2007. Senator Van de Putte has never been one to shy away from a fight. She led fellow Democrats on a 45 -day walkout to New Mexico in 2003 to oppose Texas Republicans’ attempts to gerrymander districts. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin was the first woman to be elected mayor of Atlanta and the first African-American woman to be elected mayor of a major southern city. Mayor Franklin is a former president of the Conference of National Democratic Mayors. I would now like to introduce former Governor David Walters, who will present the Rules Committee nominations for vice-chairs and for permanent secretary of the convention. David Walters served as governor of Oklahoma from 1990 to 1994, where he increased education funding by 30 percent. Thank you, and please welcome Governor David Walters.