The SDDP Announces Gov. Martin O’Malley as Convention Banquet Special Guest Speaker
The South Dakota Democratic Party today announced Former Maryland Governor and presidential candidate Martin O’Malley as the special guest speaker at its State Party Convention Banquet set for the night of Friday, June 24.
“We are working hard to organize our State Convention and are pleased to announce Gov. Martin O’Malley will be our special guest banquet speaker on Friday, June 24,” said SDDP Chair Ann Tornberg. “He is a passionate speaker and his message on core Democratic values such as inclusion, empowerment, and expanded opportunity for all will be an important message as we unite as a Party for the General Election. We are also pleased our U.S. House candidate Paula Hawks and U.S. Senate candidate Jay Williams will be addressing the convention delegates at the banquet as well.”
Martin O’Malley served as Governor of Maryland from 2007 to 2015. Under his leadership, Maryland recovered 100 percent of the jobs lost during the national recession and was one of seven states to maintain a AAA bond rating. The College Board organization named Maryland one of the top states in the nation in holding down the cost of college tuition, and Education Week recognized Maryland as having the best public schools in America for an unprecedented five years in a row.
O’Malley also took action to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He worked to uplift the dignity of all Marylanders by signing marriage equality into law and passing the DREAM Act to expand the opportunity of a college education to more Marylanders. During his tenure as governor, O’Malley also abolished Maryland’s death penalty. Prior to serving as governor, O’Malley served two terms as the mayor of Baltimore, where TIME named him “one of American’s top five big city mayors.” He also served two terms as Chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Governor O’Malley received his bachelor’s degree from Catholic University and his law degree from the University of Maryland. Governor O’Malley and his wife, Katie, a District Court judge, live in Baltimore with their four children.
The SDDP state convention will meet June 24-25 at the Holiday Inn City Centre in Sioux Falls.
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