CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Charleston Civic Center will play host to the annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner Saturday evening. It’s the biggest fundraiser for the West Virginia Democratic Party each year.
When it came time to find a keynote speaker, Leon Panetta, the former U.S. Secretary of Defense and Director of the CIA., was on the top of the party’s list.
“I was very, very excited to get Leon. The folks are telling me they are so interested in hearing what he has to say,” said WV Democratic Party Chairman Larry Puccio.
Panetta won’t be the only person honored Saturday. Puccio said at the heart of the event are the party members who work tirelessly.
“We honor Democrats from across the state that work very hard to get people to the polls and Democrats that just support the party and its candidates,” explained the chairman.
The event will draw more than 1,000 Democrats from all parts of West Virginia. As of Friday, there were only a handful of tickets available for the dinner. The money from the fundraiser goes right back into the party coffers.
“We use the money to organize, to have field operations, encouraging folks to get to the polls and cast their vote,” said Puccio.
Scheduled to be on hand for the event are U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, Congressman Nick Rahall and Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.