The Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee announced that Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker will be the main speaker at the annual Kennedy-King dinner.
Booker, a Rhodes Scholar and former tight end at Stanford University, is serving his second term as mayor of Newark. There are rumors he might challenge Republican Chris Christie for governor next year.
In a statement, Hillsborough County Democratic Party Chair Chris Mitchell said he was thrilled to have the mayor speak in Tampa.
"Like the men for whom the event is named — President John Kennedy and Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. — he has shown great leadership in dealing with tough problems when others saw things as unchangeable. Mayor Cory Booker is a leader in our Party, mixing a pragmatic, 'get it done' approach with energy and a unique connection with voters."
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2012.