DEMOCRATS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION RELEASES LIST OF BOLD-FACE NAME SUPPORTERS FROM ACROSS USA

DPE Momentum Continues To Grow

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, Democrats For Public Education (DPE) released a list of bold-face names who signed on as supporters for the newly-launched organization. DPE is a 527 formed to show that Democrats remain united around a core set of principles to ensure public education thrives for generations to come. Since officially launching on August 19th, 2014, scores of elected officials, party leaders and activists at all levels of government - and from communities in all 50 states - have already added their names as supporters.

"In less than two months since officially launching, its no surprise that Democrats for Public Education has already enjoyed such a flood of support," said DPE Co-Chair Denise Juneau, Montana State Superintendent of Instruction. "These folks understand that a high-quality public education is an economic necessity, a moral imperative and a pillar of democracy. We believe we should be lifting up and championing public education, teachers and our neighborhood schools - by investing time, energy and resources."

Below is just a small sampling of Democrats from all across America who have signed on to support DPE:

• Parris Glendening - Former Maryland Governor
• Mark Schauer - Candidate for Governor of Michigan, Former U.S. Representative
• Lon Johnson - Michigan Democratic Party Chair, DNC Member
• Ray Buckley - New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair, DNC Vice-Chair, ASDC President
• Wallace Collins - Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair, DNC Member
• Karen Carter Peterson - Louisiana Democratic Party Chair, Louisiana State Senator, DNC Executive Committee
• Diane Ravitch - NYU Research Professor of Education, Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education
• Rita Solnet - Co-Founder of Parents Across America, Former PTA President and Former School Advisory Board Member for Palm Beach County Schools
• Alice Huffman - California NAACP President, National Board of Directors of the NAACP, DNC Member
• Doris Crouse-Mays - Virginia AFL-CIO President, DNC Executive Committee
• Minyon Moore - Former Assistant to the President, Director of White House Political Affairs and Director of White House Public Liasion under President Clinton, DNC Executive Committee, Democratic Strategist
• Maria Cardona - Former Senior Advisor and spokesperson for the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign, former Senior Vice President for the New Democrat Network (NDN), served as Deputy Press Secretary and Press Secretary at the Department of Commerce, former Communications Director the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Strategist
• Loretta Weinberg - New Jersey State Senate Majority Leader
• Martha Fuller Clark - New Hampshire State Senator, First Vice-Chair of New Hampshire Democratic Party, DNC Member
• Rich Madaleno - Maryland State Senator
• Bonnie Watson Coleman - New Jersey Assemblywoman, candidate for Congress
• Edie McClafferty - Member, Montana State House of Representatives
• Margie MacDonald - Member, Montana State House of Representatives
• Ellen Cogen Lipton - Member, Michigan State House of Representatives
• Mimi Stewart - Member, New Mexico State House of Representatives
• Joel Briscoe - Minority Caucus Manager and Member, Utah State House of Representatives
• Anita Bonds - District of Columbia Council Member At-Large, DNC Executive Committee
• Barbra Casbar Siperstein - New Jersey Democratic State Committee Vice-Chair and DNC Executive Committee
• Andres Ramirez - Vice-Chair, DNC Hispanic Caucus
• Karren Pope-Onwukwe - Attorney and DNC Member, Maryland
• Lottie Shackelford - Chair of DNC Women’s Caucus, Former Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas
• Maggie Allen - Principal at Windsor Elementary School (Maine), DNC Member

Last month, Democrats For Public Education (DPE) released the results of a national voter survey showing voters back public education in large numbers. You can view the poll memo on its findings here.

For more information – and to sign-up as a supporter – please visit www.DemocratsForPublicEducation.com.

Thank You Message From Vin Gopal

My fellow Democrat:

Last night, our slate won with more than 70% of the total vote. Over 600 county committee members voted - a turnout higher than the Republican convention. I want to thank Marlboro Councilman Frank LaRocca and Mayor Jon Hornik and their entire team for running a spirited campaign. As a result of a contested race, our party is stronger and united for November.

Vin Gopal

I won this election because of the hard work of countless supporters across this county who worked tirelessly for our team. I want to give special thanks to our team of mayors and former freeholders who stood with us at every twist and every turn, all of whom endorsed me the day I announced. Every time we needed their help, to sign an endorsement letter or speak on our behalf, they stood up for us. Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini, Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson, Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty, Bradley Beach Mayor Julie Shreck, Lake Como Mayor Mike Ryan, Neptune Mayor Randy Bishop, Spring Lake Mayor Jennifer Naughton and former Freeholders John D'Amico and Amy Mallet - thank you for your unwavering support. I want to also thank former freeholder candidates Mike Beson, Janice Venables and Sean Byrnes for standing with our campaign from the get-go. Of equal importance, I want to thank the Democratic municipal chairs, countless elected officials and party leaders across this county who stood with us every step of the way. There are too many to name but you know who you are. I also want to thank our brothers and sisters in organized labor who helped get the vote out. My neighboring chairman, Ocean County's Democratic Leader Wyatt Earp, also deserves very special recognition for his early and strong endorsement giving our campaign a big boost. Our campaign manager, Asbury Park Democratic Party Municipal Chairman Giuseppe 'Joe' Grillo and our political consultant Mitch Seim ran a flawless campaign and they will do a great job leading the Monmouth County Democrats in the upcoming years.

Most importantly - I want to thank you - the Democratic County Committee - for standing with our team in this race. I will be calling many of you in the upcoming weeks to personally thank you and I hope to see many of you at our thank you party. This will be a joint effort and the work begins today to challenge the Republicans vote by vote, block by block, precinct by precinct, town by town across this county.

Since 1986, Allen Falk has served as Parliamentarian for the Monmouth County Democrats under the leadership of Chairman Scudiery. I have asked him to remain in that role on our executive committee and he has accepted. I want to thank Allen for accepting and continuing his decades of dedication to the Democratic Party.

Earlier today - our state's Democratic leaders - Chairman Wisniewski, Speaker Oliver, Senate President Sweeney as well as the offices of Senators Menendez and Lautenberg pledged their full support for our new team. I told them that the Monmouth County Democrats are united and ready to get to work.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with our team. As always, you can always reach me on my cell phone at 732-299-5625. In the next few weeks, we will be announcing a comprehensive, aggressive agenda to elect Democrats at every level of government in Monmouth County.

I hope to see you at our 'Thank You' party.

Democratically yours,

Vin Gopal
Monmouth County Democratic Chairman