"Today is a new day for Democrats," said Governor Dean. "More and more people are coming on board with our campaign because we are bringing change to campaign finance, to leadership, and to the political process. And we are going to bring change to the White House in 2004."
Zimmerman served as Iowa's first woman Lieutenant Governor between 1987 and 1991, and was Iowa's last Lieutenant Governor to preside over the Iowa Senate. Prior to this, she was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1982 and re--elected in 1984. She served as Vice Chair of the Human Services Committee and sat on the Education and Agriculture standing committees.
"I have known Howard Dean since 1987 and as fellow Lt. Governor's, we worked on many health related issues, as well as rural issues," said Zimmerman. "In the past 16 years Howard Dean has proven he can get things done, while Dick Gephardt has proven he will let us down."
Dr. Riggs has been a leading and influential figure in the Iowa Democratic Party for nearly 20 years. She is the former Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party and most recently, the State Chair for Senator Bob Graham's Presidential Campaign. In 1984 she served as the youngest delegate to the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. She ran for Congress in 1994 and in 1996 she was the co--chair for Senator Harkin's Finance Committee and a National Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
"This country is still narrowly divided and this election will be close," said Riggs. "In order for Democrats to tip the scales we need a candidate who can generate excitement, bring new people, especially young people, into the process, and Governor Dean has proven he is the best candidate that can do this. As a former governor, Howard Dean has a record of results on health care, job creation and fiscal responsibility. Iowa Democrats appreciate candidates with some fire in the belly, which is why we like Tom Harkin so much. Dean has proven he will stand up to Bush on the tough issues."
Current and former elected leaders that have endorsed Governor Dean include:
State Representative Cindy Winckler
State Representative Bruce Hunter
State Representative Marcella Frevert
State Representative Gregory Stevens
State Representative Polly Bukta
State Representative Donald Shoultz
State Senator Joseph Bolkcom
State Senator Daryl Beall
Mayor Martin Brown, Bradgate
Mayor Larry Murphy, Oelwein
Mayor Bill Dunbar, Patterson
Mayor Bill Stammerman, Dallas Center
Mayor Ned Miller, Windsor Heights
City Councilman Ross Wilburn, Iowa City
City Councilman Pat Palmer, Hampton
City Councilwoman Joan Amos, Chariton
City Councilwoman Ann Lesnet, Muscatine
City Councilman Bob Soesbe, Clinton
City Councilman Rusty Martin, Perry
City Councilman Steve Flynn, Maquoketa
City Councilman Fred Stark, Washington
State Central Committee Member Dee Brandt, Fayette County
State Central Committee Member Jean Hartwell, Pottawattamie County
State Central Committee Member Stephania Haupert, Mahaska County
State Central Committee Member Sandy Opstvedt, Story County
State Central Committee Member Carol Porch, Johnson County
County Chair Tim Ennis, Adams County
County Chair Stave Kranz, Benton County
County Chair John Cahill, Marshall County
County Chair Jean Hartwell, Pottawattamie County
County Chair Kay Ciha, Washington County
County Chair Richard Gilmore, Washington County
County Chair Carolyn Larson, Butler County
County Chair Tom Hoover, Palo Alto County
County Chair Bruce Biederman, Mitchell County
County Chair John Amos, Lucas County
County Chair Sara Adams, Poweshiek County
County Chair John Nelson, Emmet County
County Supervisor Brian Quirk, Blackhawk County
County Supervisor Barbara Leestamper, Blackhawk County
County Supervisor Jack Cooley, Clarke County
County Supervisor Wayne West, Emmet County
County Supervisor Roger Anderson, Emmet County
County Supervisor Daryl Kothinbeutel, Franklin County
County Treasurer Donna Lawson, Greene County
County Supervisor Ric Gerard, Iowa County
County Treasurer Kimberly Tanke, Iowa County
County Recorder Susan Peterson, Iowa County
County Supervisor Carol Thompson, Johnson County
County Supervisor Mary Krier, Keokuk County
County Supervisor Eugene Elsbecker, Kossuth County
County Recorder Larry Holtkamp, Lee County
County Supervisor Lu Barron, Linn County
County Recorder Tena Hinkel, Monona County
County Supervisor Paul Sitzmann, Plymouth County
County Supervisor Royce Dredge, Ringgold County
County Auditor Karen Fitzsimmons--Walton, Scott County
County Supervisor James Hancock, Scott County
County Supervisor Wayne Clinton, Story County
County Supervisor Jane Halliburton, Story County
County Supervisor Doug Walish, Woodbury County
County Supervisor Esther Dean, Muscatine County
County Supervisor Dennis Boedecker, Cedar County
County Supervisor David Miller, Des Moines County
Former US Congressman Berkley Bedell
Former State Democratic Party Chair Sheila McGuire Riggs
Former State Lieutenant Governor Jo Ann Zimmerman
Former Iowa Secretary of State Elaine Baxter
Former Iowa House Minority Leader Dick Meyers
Former State Senator Johnnie Hammond
Former State Senator Ralph Rosenberg
Former State Representative Glen Jesse
Former State Senator Bev Hannon
Former State Senator Mark Shearer
Former State Representative Brian Carter
Former State Representative Kay Halloran
Former State Representative Ed Bremmer
Former State Representative Linda Nelson
Former State Representative Art Ollie
Former State Representative Bob Fuller
Former State Representative Florence Buhr
Former State Representative Bill Gannon
Former County Chair Bob Burns, Warren County
Former County Chair Phil Scott, Jefferson County
Former County Chair Larry Beck, Grundy County
Former County Chair Lyle Otte, Winneshiek County
Former County Chair Bill Russell, Decatur County
Former County Chair Jeanne Bridenstine, Jasper County
Former County Chair Arlie Willems, Jackson County
Former County Chair Robert Degroote, Hancock County
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