Husted Selected as Fellow at the Aspen Institute

The Hannah Report
September 21, 2006

Following an eight-month search involving input
from more than 1,400 business, political, and civic leaders, the Aspen Institute has selected Jon Husted, speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives as one of 24 top young elected officials for a fellowship program honoring public leaders.

This class of 24 Fellows, drawn from the ranks of
federal, state, and local governments, and representing 21 states, forms the second two-year class of the Aspen-Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership, designed to bring together "the very best of the nation's emerging leaders" to discuss broad issues of democratic governance and effective public service.

Former Congressman Mickey Edwards, the
program's director, said the new fellowship class
"represents the true promise of America -- an
outstanding group of young leaders with a clear
commitment to putting the nation's interest ahead of partisan considerations." Edwards said the selection process involved looking for young officials who had not only earned reputations for thoughtfulness and intelligence, but who had also been recognized for "their willingness to cross party lines and their ability to remain focused on the ideals that had led them into public service in the first place."

The Institute's Rodel Fellowships in Leadership
program brings together bipartisan groups of public officials judged to be the rising stars of American politics. The Fellows are selected in a months-long nomination and selection process that involves more than 1,400 business, professional, and civic leaders, and an advisory committee of more than 50 leading political figures.

This class of Fellows will meet for the first time in late November 2006 for a three-day conversation centered on the underlying values and principles of a democratic society. This second class includes 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats, bringing the total number of Rodel Fellows to 48, drawn from 34 states, including members of Congress, as well as state and local officials.

Congressman Edwards described the program's
goals as twofold: "in a political world in which partisanship has become increasingly bitter and public decision-making has become increasingly polarized, we're working to help a new generation of public leaders build lasting relationships across party lines, and at the same time, we're trying to sharpen the focus of the political conversation on our common goals as members of a diverse democracy."

REMINDER - September 30: Join House Speaker Jon Husted for The Annual John Wayne Clay Shoot