Hillary Clinton announces Alabama leadership team

Source: al.com







Hillary Clinton addresses the Alabama Democratic Conference convention at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover. (Howard Koplowitz)




Howard Koplowitz


on November 20, 2015 at 10:42 AM, updated November 20, 2015 at 12:35 PM



More than 60 Alabama officials, including U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham and a couple dozen state lawmakers, were tapped to build Hillary Clinton's campaign organization in the state, the Clinton campaign announced Friday.

The launch of Clinton's "Alabama Leadership Council" comes a month after the former secretary of state and Democratic front-runner visited Hoover to give a speech to the Alabama Democratic Conference convention at the Wynfrey Hotel. In her speech, Clinton called the state's decision to close 31 driver's license offices "a blast from the Jim Crow past," and slammed Alabama's voter ID laws. Clinton is also set to visit the state Dec. 1, when she's scheduled to be in Montgomery to help mark the 60th anniversary of the bus boycott.

The council "will serve as the in-state leadership for the campaign, amplifying the campaign's national voice to Alabama families aiding the campaign with rapid response, organization building, grassroots organizing events, recruiting volunteer leaders, and identifying leaders for get out the vote activities," the Clinton campaign said. The leadership council members "share Clinton's commitment to fighting for Alabama families, including raising wages for the middle class, her plan to reform health care to reduce prescription drug costs, her passion for reforming the criminal justice system and her belief that debt should never be a barrier for students going to college and much more."

Sewell, the top elected official on the council and an early endorser of Clinton, said the former secretary of state is "the most qualified candidate to run for president."

"Hillary Clinton understands the needs of working families, and whether it's her plan to make college more affordable, defend our voting rights, reform our criminal justice system, or help in raising incomes, it's clear she is a proven fighter for underserved and underrepresented communities," she said. "Hillary Clinton shares the values of Alabama's 7th Congressional District, and I am confident in her ability to tackle the tough issues facing our nation."



................................ The full list, which is expected to expand, can be viewed below:



Read more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/11/hillary_clinton_announces_alab.html#incart_river_index