The largest Florida Democratic Party (FDP) State Convention ever is about to convene on 9-11 October 2009 at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club in Orlando, Florida.
“The delegate rules call for 6,903 delegates and under Congresswomen’s Karen Thurman’s leadership, and after a very successful 2008 Presidential Campaign with an unprecedented number of active and enthused Democrats, we will be having the largest convention ever, said Florida Democratic National Committee (DNC) Member Jon Ausman of Tallahassee.
“Chair Thurman has put together an exciting program featuring Governors Martin O’Malley of Maryland and John Baldacci of Maine. After Florida went for the Obama-Biden ticket it is good to know Congresswoman Thurman can draw on first tier speakers,” Ausman said.
“Even in a bad economy I am sure more than 3,500, or half, of the delegates will be in attendance at the Convention in Orlando,” remarked Ausman.
The first modern FDP State Convention was held in Orlando in 1975. At this Convention 3,500 delegates voted in a straw ballot where Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter smashed former Alabama Governor George Wallace.
In 1979 President Carter defeated United States Senator Ted Kennedy in a straw ballot. In 1983 former Vice-President Walter Mondale and former Governor Reuben Askew slugged it out to a tie.
In 1991 Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton defeated three major opponents. Either President Clinton or First Lady Hillary Clinton attended the next three FDP State Conventions in thanks for straw ballot win.
Another highlight of the convention will be a Attorney General candidate debate between State Senators Dan Gelber and Dave Aronberg scheduled for 9 – 10 am on Sunday, 11 October in the Grand Harbor Ballroom.
Jon Ausman is the Dean of the Florida Democratic National Committee Members and is the longest consecutive serving DNC Member in Florida history. He served as Chair of the Leon County Democratic Party from April 1980 through January 2000. He also served eight years as FDP Vice-Chair from 1992 to 2000. In 2008 Ausman wrote and presented the appeal restoring Florida delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.
