Political analyst and former White House senior aide Paul Begala will be the keynote speaker at the 2009 Democratic Party of Arkansas (DPA) Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on Friday, July 24, 2009 at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock.
“This year’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner is an important opportunity to take stock of the accomplishments of Democrats in Arkansas as we prepare for the road ahead,” said Governor Mike Beebe. “Paul Begala is an enthusiastic national opinion leader who will rally our faithful as we gear up for next year’s election campaigns.”
From the White House Situation Room to CNN’s news program of the same name, Begala’s experience gives him unmatched perspective on politics and the media. As a political strategist or pundit, he has been the center of every election cycle of the last 25 years.
Begala served as counselor to President Clinton in the White House, where he helped define and defend the Administration’s agenda. With James Carville he was a senior strategist for the 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign.
In addition to Begala, this year’s Jefferson-Jackson Dinner will feature Governor Beebe, U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representatives Marion Berry, Vic Snyder and Mike Ross. Also participating in the evening’s festivities will be Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, Secretary of State Charlie Daniels, Treasurer Martha Shoffner, Auditor Jim Wood, Commissioner of State Lands Mark Wilcox, Democratic state legislators, and many other distinguished Democrats.
DPA Chairman Todd Turner said, “I look forward to visiting with Democrats from across the state as we welcome Paul Begala back to Arkansas. I know from my recent travels that our county committees, clubs, and Party auxiliaries are excited about the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner and the other events scheduled that weekend. This is a time for Democrats to gather and honor the outstanding women and men who serve all Arkansans in elected office.”
The Jefferson-Jackson Dinner is the highlight of a dynamic and busy two days of Democratic events and meetings. Kicking off the festivities the Senior Democrats of Arkansas will have lunch and a regular business meeting on Friday, July 24, at the Whole Hog Café in Little Rock. As the lights go down on the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, the Young Democrats of Arkansas will just be getting started as they play host to the second annual “J-J After Dark.”
On Saturday, July 25, the DPA will hold its third quarter state and executive committee meetings at the Wyndham Riverfront in North Little Rock. Following the meetings will be a lunch provided by the Arkansas Regional Council of Carpenters.
