RIO GRANDE COUNTY — The Colorado Speaker of the House, Julie McCluskie, will address the Rio Grande County Democrats’ 3rd Annual John F. Kennedy Dinner on the evening of Saturday, Nov. 4.

Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the program and dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m. The event which is back after a 3-year hiatus, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held at the Outcalt Event and Conferece at SLV Ski Hi Complex in Monte Vista.

Speaker McCluskie has served as a State Representative since 2018 and was re-elected in 2022 to represent House District 13, which includes Chaffee, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Park, and Summit counties. She is the first woman Speaker elected from the Western Slope.

Speaker McCluskie is a strong advocate for saving people money and protecting the mountain way of life. Over Speaker McCluskie’s time as Chair of the JBC, she carried the state’s budget — which made record investments in public schools, higher education, and health care.

Born and raised in Colorado and a graduate of Colorado State University, Speaker McCluskie and her husband, Jamie, have spent most of their married years in the Rocky Mountains. They are proud parents of two children, Ian and Cait, and enjoy spending family time in Colorado’s great outdoors.

The JFK Dinner will also welcome other special guests from the Colorado government. State Representative Matthew Martinez, a freshman legislator in 2023, who has accomplished an impressive agenda in higher education, veterans issues and keeping utility companies accountable is confirmed to address the crowd. Candidate for CU Regent Elliot Hood is also expected to attend. More candidates and elected officials are expected to attend and will be announced as information becomes available.

“We are excited to once again hold our highly successful John F. Kennedy Dinner. We have always strived for our event to be a gem in the mountains, and past keynote speakers and attendees have been impressed with the quality of the show. Our past special guests have included the current governor, previous senate majority leader, and current state representatives and state senators. The Colorado Speaker of the House addressing our dinner is a culmination of this caliber of guests and hard work to ensure our rural communities can hear from and meet our policy makers. We look forward to a continued successful event,” stated Jesse Anthony Guerrero, chair of the Rio Grande County Democrats.

Tickets for the event are on sale. Prices are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Advance purchase of tickets is highly encouraged and preferred as space is limited. Sponsorship opportunities and VIP tickets are also available. To purchase tickets, email [email protected].

For up to date information on confirmed special guests and additional information, follow Rio Grande County Democrats on Facebook.