By Ed Somers
September 25, 2006

The Conference of Mayors is inviting Republican and Democratic presidential candidates to participate in its 75th Winter Meeting being held in Washington, DC on January 24-26, 2007. At this meeting, the Conference will release its bi-partisan priorities for the 2008 presidential campaign, and ask the possible candidates to discuss their priorities for America's cities and metro economies.

In a letter sent by Conference President Dearborn Mayor Michael A. Guido and Executive Director Tom Cochran, possible Republican candidates were invited to address a special plenary session on Wednesday, January 24 starting at 2:30pm, and possible Democratic candidates were invited to a special plenary session on Thursday, January 25 starting at 2:30pm.

Invited aspirants (to date) are:

Invited Republicans: January 24
Senator George Allen (VA)
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (TN)
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (GA)
Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (NY)
Senator Chuck Hagel (NE)
Governor Mike Huckabee (AR)
Senator John McCain (AZ)
Governor George Pataki (NY)
Governor Mitt Romney (MA)

Invited Democrats: January 25
Senator Evan Bayh (IN)
Senator Joseph Biden (DE)
General Wesley Clark (AR)
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY)
Senator Christopher Dodd (CT)
Former Senator John Edwards (NC)
Former Vice President Al Gore (TN)
Senator John F. Kerry (MA)
Senator Barack Obama (IL)
Governor Bill Richardson (NM)
Governor Tom Vilsack (IA)
Former Governor Mark Warner (VA)

Mayors are asked to help contact these individuals and urge them to participate in the 75th Winter Meeting. For more information, please contact Ed Somers at esomers@usmayors.org.