Governor Kathleen Gilligan Sebelius ’70 Elected Chair of Democratic Governors Association
Outgoing Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Chair New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announced today that the Democratic governors elected Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius the 2007 DGA Chair. Sebelius, who graduated from Trinity in 1970, will be the first female chair in DGA history.
Kathleen Sebelius
In the announcement released by the Association, Sebelius said, “I’m honored to have an active role in the leadership of the DGA. Democratic governors are, by nature, results-oriented public policy entrepreneurs. I intend to strengthen the DGA’s role as a clearinghouse for best practices in the states. It’s been my experience that good policy equals good politics. And I expect that to be a hallmark of my leadership as DGA Chair.”
Sebelius pointed out that the Democratic governors’ majority status is an important part of winning the White House in 2008. “After inaugurations in January,” she said, “states with Democratic governors will account for 295 electoral votes, up from 207 electoral votes.”
Named by Time magazine one of America ‘s five best governors, Sebelius was just re-elected with 58 percent of the vote, even though fewer than a third of voters are registered Democrats in Kansas .
Sebelius explained how the DGA will be competitive and win in the coming years. “We will do well in 2007 and 2008 using the same strategies that worked in 2005 and 2006–early investments in and support for strong candidates, leveraging our relationships with allied organizations, and making sure every voter knows why it’s so important to have a governor who shares their values. The 2006 election proved that Democratic governors can be competitive and win in every region of the country – regardless of labels – because we share the values of working Americans and they support our innovative leadership,” Gov. Sebelius concluded.
Another Trinity graduate, Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi ’62 is making history as the first woman to be elected Speaker of the House. Elected Speaker by the House Democratic caucus following the November elections, she will be sworn in as the first female Speaker of the House on January 4, 2007, as the 110 th Congress convenes.
Read the press announcement issued by the Democratic Governors Association.
Read a profile of Governor Sebelius in the TRINITY magazine.
Secretary Sebelius and Speaker Pelosi at Trinity in 2003.