Leading Officials From Across the Country Descend on the First State
For Immediate Release: Thursday, September 6, 2007
For More Information, Contact: Joe Fulgham (302) 744-4184
Hundreds of top state officials from throughout the U.S. and Canada are in Delaware this week for the annual meeting of one of the most prestigious legislative organizations in the country.
The National Speakers Conference (NSC) - established to serve as a forum for America's Speakers of the House to discuss issues of mutual interest – is holding its 16th Annual Meeting in Dover. The event runs through Saturday.
Approximately 225 people, including 61 former and current Speakers of the House from more than 30 states, are taking part in the event. Although the conference itself is being held at Dover Downs, events involving the conference participants, their staff and spouses will take place in all three Delaware counties.
Delaware Speaker of the House Terry Spence has served as the organization’s president since last September and will turn over leadership at a ceremony Friday evening. "I consider this to be one of the finest legislative groups in the country, and I’m proud to have led them over the past year,” Speaker Spence said.
The annual event offers a chance for state leaders to compare notes on the challenges facing state lawmakers nationwide. “Part of the conference will be an open roundtable discussion on topics ranging from education to economic development,” Speaker Spence said. “The participants can see what’s worked elsewhere, what’s failed, and what could be successfully applied in their own states.”
One of the planned seminars will explore the strengths and weaknesses of healthcare initiatives recently undertaken by California, Massachusetts and Vermont. Another aspect of the conference will focus on energy issues.
The NSC always holds its annual meeting in the home state of the outgoing president. Speaker Spence says the event will give Delaware a modest economic boost and, just as importantly, a chance to showcase the state. “The Delaware Economic Development Office is actively promoting the state to our visitors as a venue for future events and as a great place to return with their families.”
Terry Spence has been Delaware’s Speaker of the House since 1987 – the longest tenure of any Speaker in state history. With 20 years experience in the post, he has also served longer than any other current Speaker of the House in the nation.
"Speaker Spence is recognized as one of the finest presiding officers in the country,” said Stephen Lakis, president of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. Mr. Lakis, who is attending the Dover conference, added that Speaker Spence’s “public policy experience, commitment to bipartisanship and strong belief in protecting the role of the state legislatures” has made him a valuable leader of the NSC over the past year.
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