NM Leaders to Join Senators, Governors, at Project New West Summit in August

In American politics and policy today, all roads lead West. In just eight short years, the Intermountain West went from being a reliably Republican stronghold to the center of the American political landscape. This dramatic political transformation is evident in New Mexico, where Barack Obama more than doubled Al Gore’s margin of victory and Democrats took control of the entire congressional delegation.

Next month, Project New West, a leading authority on the values, issues, and demographics that define America’s "New West," is bringing together the region’s top national and local elected officials, strategists, and organizers to offer the strategic roadmap to understand the "New West." The 2009 Western Summit -- A Road Map for the New West for the New Decade -- will feature a wide-array of Western notables who will help participants to understand who and what define the New West.

The New West Summit is set for Wednesday, August 12, through Friday, August 14, at the Colorado History Museum in downtown Denver.

Key New Mexico leaders, such as U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, U.S. Senator Tom Udall, U.S. Congressman Ben R. Luján, Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, and State Auditor Hector Balderas will join Robert Redford and Western leaders from across the New West region including: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, U.S. Congressman Walt Minnick of Idaho, Colorado State Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll, Utah Senate Minority Leader Patricia Jones, Chairman of the Coeur D’Alene Tribe Chief J. Allan, and Arizona State Rep. & Asst. Leader to the Democratic Caucus Kyrsten Sinema to discuss progressives’ success in the region and the challenges ahead.

The Summit will also cover a broad array of political and policy issues facing New Mexico and the region. Top strategists will discuss the region’s political trends and help participants craft smart strategies for maximizing success in the unique political environment of the New West, according to a press release from the organization. Experts will address policy challenges like water, clean energy, and smart growth that define the Western political landscape. Key organizational leaders will discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead and strategies for meeting them.

The Keynote Luncheon will feature A Conversation with Robert Redford and U.S. Senator Tom Udall, a discussion about the West and the future of the West with two of the nation’s leading conservationists. The opening session will feature Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who will provide and over-arching introduction to the Summit and Project new West, with an historical, demographic and political look at the West. Other sessions will focus on Hispanics and the New West, the New Energy Economy, Western Challenges and Opportunities and Coalitions in the West.

Join hundreds of key stakeholders from the “New West” and peers from across the nation for two days of western-style fun, analysis, discussion, and networking. Click for a glimpse of the program. Space is limited, so register now. Or call Project New West at 303.405.8502 for details.