WASHINGTON, DC - In her first major public appearance since suspending her presidential campaign, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will address nearly a thousand elected and appointed Latino officials at a national leadership luncheon on Thursday, June 26, at 1:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.

The address will take place during 25th Annual Conference of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), the nation’s leading Latino political organization, from June 25-28.  Senator Clinton will join House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other national leaders who will also speak to conference attendees on Thursday.

“Senator Clinton’s been a real champion for our community,” said Adolfo Carrión, Jr., NALEO President and Bronx Borough President.  “We’re excited to continue the conversation about how we move the country forward on the issues we all care about.”

NALEO announced earlier this week that Senators John McCain and Barack Obama, the presumptive Republican and Democratic presidential nominees, will participate in separate forums with Latino elected officials on Saturday, June 28. 

The appearances will take place during a four-day convention of Latino public officials working at all levels of government in communities across the nation.  Conference participants will join political and policy leaders for panel discussions on education, mental health, affordable energy, the growing economic crisis, community investment and the emerging clout of Latino voters on American politics.

The group will also honor New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson with its Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service on the evening of June 28.

For a full conference agenda and registration information, please visit http://www.naleo.org/annualconference.

NALEO 25th Annual Conference

NALEO, the nation’s membership organization of Latino elected officials, and NALEO Educational Fund, the leading organization that empowers Latinos to participate in the American political process, will host nearly 1,000 elected and appointed officials and their supporters at the nation’s Latino political convention.

June 25-28, 2008

HIGHLIGHTS:

NALEO Kick-Off Press Conference on Thursday, June 26 at 11:00 a.m. at the Auditorium, Meeting Room Level

National Leadership Luncheon on Thursday, June 26 at 12:00 p.m. in Grand Ballroom, Ballroom Level featuring Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senator Robert Menendez, Senator Ken Salazar and Rep. Xavier Becerra.  Senator Clinton is scheduled to speak at 1:30 p.m.

Appearance by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) on Saturday, June 28 at 11:00 a.m.

Appearance by Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) on Saturday, June 28 at 12:00 p.m. 
Details and logistics to follow.

The Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala honoring Governor Bill Richardson on Thursday, June 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, in Washington, D.C.