The Honorable Gloria Molina Vice Chair Democratic National Committee Democratic National Convention Monday, July 26, 2004 BOSTON, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a transcript of a speech by Roberta Achtenberg at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, July 26, 2004: I come to Boston as a proud Democrat, as vice chair of our party, and as a county supervisor representing two million working-class families in Los Angeles. As an elected official at a local level, I can tell you why we need a democrat in the White House. When our party was in the White House, I could count on our president to challenge Congress on issues like health care. I could count on our president to give local government the support we needed to provide health care for the uninsured in our community. When our party was in the White House, my community was protected by specially trained law enforcement officers who were funded by a federal Safe Streets program. And my constituents could rely on a White House that supported affordable housing and programs for our seniors. When our party was in the White House, we had tax cuts and a strong economy that helped working-class families like those in my district. Our president's leadership on domestic issues was unparalleled. And when our Democratic Party was in the White House we were a respected world power. But I remain optimistic because as Democrats we are here to nominate John Kerry and John Edwards as America's new leaders, Democrats who will provide leadership that my community will benefit from and leadership that all of us can rely on. John Kerry will strengthen our nation's economy by creating new jobs and keeping them here at home. He'll support our military and their families. He'll strengthen our public education system, and clean up the environment. As a woman and as a Latina mom, I trust John Kerry to protect my rights and to create opportunities for my child. I trust the Kerry/Edwards team to not only challenge and work with Congress on all of these important issues. I trust them to challenge each and every one of us to work together for a strong and united America. So I come to Boston today to nominate our leaders. And I will return home to remind every voter in my community about the kind of America we will see when a Democratic team is in the White House again. Source: Democratic National Convention Committee CONTACT: Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee, +1-617-366-3100 Web site: http://www.dems2004.org/