Atlanta, GA - Mayor Shirley Franklin was cited today as a rising star in the New Democrat movement with her inclusion in the Democratic Leadership Council’s (DLC) 100 New Democrats to Watch: The Next Generation of Leadership, which casts a spotlight on elected leaders who are making a difference in their states and communities.
“The end of Bill Clinton’s presidency in 2001 closed a remarkable chapter in the New Democrat success story,” Al From, DLC Founder and CEO, explains. “Yet it also marked a new beginning – the passing of the torch to a new generation of New Democrat leaders. I am pleased that the DLC can shine a spotlight on 100 of the elected leaders around the country who are using innovative tools to achieve real results and who exemplify the strength of the New Democrat movement.”
This second installment of the DLC’s 100 to Watch, like the first in the summer of 2000, touts 100 New Democrat rising stars from beyond the Beltway and below the rank of governor. Across the nation, within statehouses and state government offices, in city halls and council chambers, Mayor Shirley Franklin and other New Democrats are solving real problems with practical solutions and championing the beliefs and interests of Americans who work hard and play by the rules. The DLC’s 100 to Watch officials share a dedication to seeking out a modern means to advance traditional Democratic values.
Mayor Franklin said, “I am honored to be selected in the DLC’s 100 New Democrats to Watch. It is a validation of our approach to managing the City of Atlanta with integrity, fiscal responsibility and caring”. She added, “The future of our country depends on the progressive leadership emerging from the DLC. The DLC’s 100 is representative of the multi-cultural nature of America and I am proud to be among the increasing number of women in leadership roles within the party.”
IMPORTANT MEDIA INFORMATION:
Reporters interested in Mayor Shirley Franklin’s selection to the DLC’s 100 New Democrats to Watch should contact Sandra Walker, Director of Communications, at (404) 330-6395. For additional information about the DLC, members of the media should contact the DLC press office at (202) 546-0007, or refer to the DLC’s web site, New Democrats Online, at www.ndol.org.
The Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) leads the New Democrat movement, a national network of elected officials and community leaders whose innovative ideas are modernizing progressive politics for the 21st Century. For additional information on the DLC or for more background on the elected officials around the country who are governing as New Democrats, web users may access the Democratic Leadership Council web site.