JBS announces spring lecture speakers - Michael Steele and Harold Ford Jr.

UT Permian Basin’s John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute has announced its Spring Distinguished Lecture topic, “A Discussion of National Politics.�
Guest speakers will include two influential chairs in the Democratic and Republican parties. They are Harold Ford, Jr., chair of the National Democratic Leadership Council, and Michael Steele, GOPAC chairman.
"This event offers a unique opportunity for West Texans to see and hear a Republican chair and a Democratic chair discuss national political issues on the same stage. I hope this opportunity will inspire and provide rare insight during this fascinating presidential election season," said JBS Director Bobby Burns.
Ford (D-Tennessee) is a former U.S. Representative. He was re-elected to Tennessee's ninth congressional district four times by an average of 80 percent of the vote. He was also the keynote speaker for the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
Steele (R-Maryland) is the former Lt. Gov. of Maryland. In 2003, he earned a place in history when he became the first African American elected to statewide office in Maryland. He is a regular contributor to Fox News.
“A Discussion of National Politics� will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10 in the UTPB gym. This event does not require tickets and is free and open to the public. For more information, call 552-2850.