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For Immediate Release Contact: Chris Roa
November 7, 2007 (909) 331-6216
SANTA ANA, CA – The
Orange County Young Democrats hosted their Second Annual William
Jefferson Clinton Awards Night on Tuesday November 6, 2007 at the
Hacienda Restaurant in Santa Ana, CA. The Clinton Awards are
their big annual event for the year.
Michele Martinez, Democratic
City Council Woman from Santa Ana, and a Young Democrat herself, served
as the master of ceremonies for the night. Tom Daly, the County
Clerk-Recorder, led the audience in the pledge of allegiance.
Gustavo Arellano, writer of OC
Weekly’s Ask a Mexican, served as the keynote speaker for the
event.
This year’s William Jefferson
Clinton Award was presented to former State Senator Joe Dunn for his
record of fighting on behalf of progressive causes and Young
Democrats. Joe Dunn is best known for his senate investigation
which led to the downfall of Enron.
Three new awards were
introduced this year. The Delores Huerta labor award was
presented to John Perez, the Political Director of UFCW 324. The
Harvey Milk LGBT Award was presented to Jeff LeTourneau, the Political
Director of ECCO. And the Outstanding Young Democrat Chapter
Award was presented to the Chapman Democrats.
Also in attendance for the
event was Frank Barbaro, the Chair of the Democratic Party of Orange
County and Eric Bauman, the Chair of the Los Angeles County Democratic
Party. Over one hundred people were in attendance at the Clinton
Awards.
“This year's dinner was an outstanding
success, featuring great honorees which everyone in the audience can
draw inspiration from for the next year,” said Jason Bensley, the Chair
of the Orange County Young Democrats. “I am really excited to
begin the countdown to next year's election. The Orange County Young
Democrats will play an important role next November by reaching out to
young voters and making sure they participate in the Democratic Party.”
The Orange County Young
Democrats are an active part of local Democratic politics and strive to
encourage progressive political activism and participation among young
people ages 14 to 35.