DNC Nevada Superdelegates

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HuffPost's OffTheBus members produced these superdelegate profiles as part of its Superdelegate Investigation. You can find all profiles here.

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Sam Lieberman State Chair Nevada

Basic Bio
* Grew up in Minneapolis, MN. Moved to Nevada in 1980. Went to college at UNLV, graduated after 16 years with 210 credits.

Involvement in the Democratic Party
* Sam was elected as the Party's First Vice Chair on March 31, 2007, in Reno.
* Sam has previously served on the Nevada-based staff for United States Senator Harry Reid and United States Congresswoman Shelley Berkley.
* As of today (Feb. 20), Sam assumes chairmanship of the Nevada Democratic party, as former chairman Jill Derby bids for Congressional District 2.
* Nevada resident since 1980, Sam has served the Nevada State Democratic Party as a volunteer, staff member, activist and donor since 1986.

Personal political interests and issues
* Sam currently serves as the Coordinator of Volunteers and Community Relations for the Las Vegas Marathon.
* He is the incoming executive director of the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada.
* Sam also serves as the Chairperson of Nevada Parents Encouraging Parents, a statewide parent training information center for parents of children with disabilities.
* Democrats are committed to bringing change to the White House so that we can bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq, provide health care to all Americans and strengthen our economy."
* "I'm honored to lead our party as Nevada Democrats focus on winning the Silver State for our presidential nominee, sending more Democrats to Congress, gaining a majority in the State Senate, and picking up seats in the Assembly,"

Involvement in 2008 election - campaign appearances, statements
* Helped organize Nevada caucuses in 2008

Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* (Not related to Joe Lieberman!) His father ran for local office (lost). Mother and Father are Democrats, and have always been active donors and supporters.

Previous Campaign Work
* Both Clinton campaigns, Gore's campaign, and Kerry's campaign.

Connections to Politicians, Leaders on State Level
* The former Nevada Secretary of State.

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Catherine Cortez Masto Las Vegas, Nevada

Basic Bio
* Masto is a native Nevadan.
* Attended the University of Nevada Reno, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1986 with a major in Finance.
* Graduated Cum Laude from Gonzaga University School of Law, in Spokane, Washington in 1990.
* Masto was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada in 1990, the U.S. District Court, District of Nevada in 1991 and the U.S. Court of Appeals, for the Ninth Circuit in 1994.
* Between June 1990 and August 1991, served as a Law Clerk for Judge Michael J. Wendell in the Eighth Judicial District Court.
* In November of 1991 she became an Associate Attorney in the Las Vegas law firm of Raleigh, Hunt & McGarry, P.C. where she remained until September, 1995 practicing as a general civil litigator.
* Resides in Las Vegas with her husband, Paul Masto, a Special Agent in the United States Secret Service. http://www.catherineforag.com/about.html

Political interests and issues
* Masto has spent a decade of her life fighting crime, protecting victims' rights, advocating for children and senior citizens and supporting working families.
* From her role as Chief of Staff for Governor Bob Miller to federal prosecutor to Assistant County Manager for Clark County - Catherine Cortez Masto has proven that she has the experience and expertise to be Nevada's Attorney General. http://www.catherineforag.com/about.html

Involvement in the Democratic Party
* January 2007, Attorney General of Nevada
* January 2002, appointed Assistant County Manager for Clark County
* March of 2000, Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA)
* July 1998, Chief of Staff to Governor Bob Miller
* September 1995, ran Governor Bob Miller's southern Nevada office http://ag.state.nv.us
http://www.catherineforag.com/about.html

Pledged Status
* Masto is uncommitted as of 3/13/08 http://superdelegates.org/Catherine_Cortez_Masto
* Attorney General Masto, Nevada Democratic Party Chairwoman Jill Derby, and First Vice Chairman Sam Lieberman say they will remain uncommitted until the convention. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/feb/18/democracy-not-really/

Family's Involvement in Politics, the Democratic Party
* Daughter of the late Manny Cortez, a former chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and a former Clark County commissioner, is the Democratic candidate. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Oct-19-Thu-2006/election/10137439.html

Connections to Politicians, Leaders on State Level
* July 1998, Chief of Staff to Governor Bob Miller
* September 1995, ran Governor Bob Miller's southern Nevada office http://ag.state.nv.us
http://www.catherineforag.com/about.html

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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Dina Titus Superdelegate - Committed to Senator Hillary Clinton State Senator, Minority Leader, Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada

Basic bio
* Ms. Titus is the author, 'Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics', University of Nevada Press, Revised Edition 2001, and 'Battle Born: Federal-State Relations in Nevada During the Twentieth Century', Kendall-Hunt, 1989.
* Dina Titus was born in 1950 in Thomasville, Georgia
http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=1116630
* Ms. Titus grew up in rural Georgia in the Town of Tifton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dina_Titus
* Without a high school diploma, Ms. Titus entered the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science,1970
* She attended the University of Georgia and received an MA, 1973
* Ms. Titus attended Florida State University and received her Ph.D., 1976
* After a year teaching at North Texas State University, Ms. Titus moved to Nevada in 1977, accepting a faculty position in the Political Science Department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and she continues to teach there as a senior professor.
* Over the past 30 years, Ms. Titus students have included a virtual who's-who list in Nevada government, public service and legal circles and the popularity of her classes is reflected in the teaching-related awards she has received.
* She is considered an expert in Nevada Politics, State Politics, Atomic Policy (Weapons & Waste), Legislative Process, and Women in Politics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dina_Titus
http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=2629
Ms. Titus has been a Nevada state legislator since 1988.

Involvement in the Democratic Party
* She ran for Governor of Nevada in 2006 and lost to Republican Jim Gibbons.
* Ms. Titus became Nevada Senate Minority Leader in 1993-present
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Dina_Titus
* Member, Legislative Commission, 1991-present
* Alternate, Legislative Commission, 1989-1991
* Candidate, Governor, Nevada, 2006.
http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=2629
* Senate Minority Floor Leader, 1993-present; Member, Legislative Commission, 1991-present.
* In 2001, Ms. Titus considered running for Congress, but Sen. Harry Reid backed County Commissioner Dario Herrera. Then she considered the Clark County Commission, but Reid's son Rory was out raising money and freezing others out of the race.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Oct-03-Mon-2005/news/3609206.html
* "She is a high school dropout with a doctorate, a big-city liberal courting rural conservatives, a woman in a good old boy's network. Unmistakably Georgian, she hopes to be Nevada's first female governor, and a Democratic one in a red state to boot." http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Oct-03-Mon-2005/news/3609206.html

Political interests and issues. What causes have they been associated with?
* Nevada Appeal (May 17, 2007) - The bill was sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Titus, D-Las Vegas, who has described the interest-raising tactics as "outrageous and unbelievable." Titus has said most cardholders aren't even aware of the clauses.

Even if they have not publicly declared their support for a candidate, how have they been involved in the 2008 election? Have they appeared at events?
* Titus on the Obama-Clinton Divide Healing : "Oh, I think so. That's one of the reasons I think a primary is better than a caucus, because you don't have that kind of in-your-face arguing, and it doesn't create those kind of divisions that came out of our caucus when there are two really strong candidates and people feel very strongly about them. ... By the end of the spring, I think all that will be put behind us. And once there is a nominee, Democrats are so determined to take back the White House and turn Nevada blue that I think they absolutely be united." [1/31/08] http://www.lvcitylife.com/articles/2008/01/31/news/local_news/iq_19413950.txt

Titus Endorsement to Senator Clinton
* "I am so pleased to endorse Hillary Clinton, and excited to play a strategic role in the national campaign," said Titus. "The American people are clearly ready for change, and an outstanding field of Democratic candidates has stepped up to get this country back on track. But of all these great candidates, Hillary Clinton is distinguished by her depth of experience and her vision for our nation. She is ready to lead, and I am thrilled to support her."
* Titus was one of the high profile endorsements and most sought after because of "Team Titus" - her volunteers from last year's campaign. It remains to be seen whether they'll all support Hillary but it's fair to assume that the majority probably will. [June 12, 2007]
http://nevadacaucus.blogspot.com/2007/06/hillary-gets-former-gov-candidate-dina.html
* Reportedly, both Titus and fellow Hillary supporter Rory Reid are interested in taking on Jon Porter (R-NV). [June 12, 2007]
http://nevadacaucus.blogspot.com/2007/06/hillary-gets-former-gov-candidate-dina.html
* State Sen. Dina Titus accepted a $5,000 contribution from Norman Hsu during her run for governor last year, which was apparently steered to her from U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton. According to Titus's campaign finance report, a check from Hsu arrived in her campaign coffers on Nov. 3, just days before the election. The Boston Globe reported today that Hsu gave to Titus at Clinton's urging.

The Clinton/Titus/Hsu Fundraising Connection
* Last fall, as the Nevada governor's race was heating up, Clinton agreed to help raise money for Democrat Dina Titus, a prominent party leader in a state that holds a key early presidential caucus. Clinton arranged for Hsu, at the time a little-known New York apparel executive with no apparent reason to take interest in Nevada politics, to give Titus $5,000 on Nov. 3, according to a person with knowledge of Clinton's fund-raising. Hsu raised big money for Clinton supporters, Candidates she courted benefit By Scott Helman, Boston Globe Staff | September 26, 2007
http://www.rgj.com/blogs/inside-nevada-politics/2007/09/boston-globe-clinton-asked-hsu-to.html
* State Sen. Dina Titus told off-the-bus that she will join the long list of Democrats who are returning campaign contributions from one-time fugitive Norman Hsu. She said she still has some money left over in the account she used for her gubernatorial campaign and will probably donate the $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity.
* According to Ms. Titus, "We were raising money all over the country with a lot of different people's help," she said of the contribution. "We certainly didn't know about this guy's problems when we took the money."
http://www.rgj.com/blogs/inside-nevada-politics/2007/09/titus-to-donate-hsu-money-charity.html

Family Political History
* Yes. Her father, Joe Titus, ran for the Tifton City Council, and her uncle, Theo Titus, served in the Georgia House of Representatives for many years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dina_Titus
* Ms. Titus had a great-grandfather who served in Congress. http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Oct-03-Mon-2005/news/3609206.html
* On July 24, 2007 It was announced on Dina Titus' blog that her father "Papa Joe" Titus had passed away.

Past Campaign Experience
* "Joined by family and two of the state's highest-ranked Democratic elected officials, Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas today formally announced his candidacy for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District. Daskas was introduced by Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Nevada Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, Clark County Assistant District Attorney Christopher Lalli, and finally David Mowen, whose son's murder case had been prosecuted by Daskas." [November 29, 2007]
http://politickernv.com/tags/andrew-martin
* In the 2004 Presidential campaign, Hon. Dina TitusLas Vegas, NV was an Unpledged DNC Member
http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P04/NV-D.phtml
Democrats moved the caucus here smack between the Iowa caucus, the first contest of the year, and the New Hampshire primary, Ms. Titus has worked the fund-raising circuit with Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and Senators Russell D. Feingold of Wisconsin and John Kerry of Massachusetts and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Evan Bayh of Indiana and Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa are on their way.
* ""In Dina Titus, Nevada Democrats have chosen a leader who will make a terrific Governor and it's time for all of us to help her on the path towards victory in November. Whether it's fighting the big polluters in the State Senate or working to protect Nevada's natural resources, Dina is a proven leader on the environment...A lifelong educator, Dina knows the importance in investing in young people from childhood education to higher education...As a state senator, Dina has worked to get our seniors affordable prescription drugs and as Governor she will continue to tackle the health care crisis head on. As Democratic leader, Dina has proven not only that she understands what works for Nevada's families, but she'll fight hard when special interests stand in the way. That's the kind of Governor she'll be, and I look forward to helping her this fall." - John Kerry [August 15, 2006]*
"They raise money for me, and I get them face time," said Ms. Titus, a little-known state lawmaker who has leveraged the attention into a suddenly competitive race against Representative Jim Gibbons, the Republican candidate for governor. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/13/us/politics/13caucus.html Titus' candidacy for governor of Nevada was endorsed by WESPAC, Wes Clark's PAC.

This profile was produced through HuffPost's OffTheBus Superdelegate Investigation. All profiles will be donated to the Superdelegate Transparency Project. If you have information that should be added to this profile, please join the Superdelegate Transparency Project and update the profile there.

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