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Svante Myrick, Ithaca Mayoral Candidate and City Alderman, will travel to Washington, D.C. Friday to meet with members of the Obama administration and attend an intimate reception with the President. Myrick is one of a small number of members of People For the American Way Foundation’s Young Elected Officials Network, a network of young progressives in elected office, who was invited to the White House to discuss important issues facing states and localities.

"When I was 16 years old, then State Senator Obama's book 'Dreams from My Father', changed my life,” said Myrick, “As a bi-racial young person, being raised by a single mother under difficult circumstances, he became my role-model. I am looking forward to thanking him for his inspiration - but I am also looking forward to the opportunity to challenge his administration on issues of social and environmental justice.  We need his leadership on same-sex marriage and we need the support of his administration to protect our environment from dangerous gas drilling."

Also representing Tompkins County to the President will be County Legislator Nathan Shinagawa, Ithaca City Alderman Eddie Rooker, and Caroline Town Board Member Dominic Frongillo. Tompkins County will have the largest delegation among the only 150 elected officials invited.

“I am looking forward to discussing with President Obama and Administration officials how we can work together on creating jobs, transitioning to clean energy, dealing with the climate crisis, and protecting our communities from unsafe gas drilling,” said Caroline Town Board Member Dominic Frongillo.

“This is an amazing opportunity and I couldn't be more honored.  We're going through a tough time in our nation's history and I'm excited to hear from Obama's Administration and get their perspective on the challenges that we are facing and how it relates to the lives of young people and America's emerging leaders.  I am also looking forward to voicing my own concerns and asking questions as both a young person and a representative of the City of Ithaca,” said Ithaca City Alderman Eddie Rooker.

“I am honored to see the President at the White House for the second time in the past two months,” said County Legislator Nathan Shinagawa, “My top priorities are pushing for more federal action to regulate natural gas drilling and progressive tax reform that helps the middle class, not the rich.”

The Young Elected Officials Network, a project of People For the American Way Foundation, provides support and training for over 600 progressive state, county and city elected officials from all 50 states.

“We are thrilled to be able to take the observations and concerns of so many young, progressive elected officials to President Obama and the Administration,” said Andrew Gillum, Executive Director of the Young Elected Officials Network. “These young leaders are on the front lines of progressive change, fighting for the values of fairness, equality and opportunity in their home communities. President Obama, a successful grassroots leader himself, understands that national movements are built by individual citizens and their elected representatives working hard to bring about positive change in their own communities. We’re tremendously proud to be able to help the president get to know our communities and discuss the issues affecting states and localities across the country.”

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