Democrat Howard Dean to visit Ann Arbor next week for 'Moving Michigan Forward' rally

Howard Dean

AP Photo

The "Moving Michigan Forward" event takes place at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Rackham Auditorium and is being sponsored by the College Democrats at the University of Michigan.

Doors open at 7:15 p.m.

"We all know that this election is one of the most important elections in the last couple of decades," said Brendan Campbell, College Democrats chairman. "It's such a critical time for the state of Michigan, so we wanted to host an event that would get people excited. It's about firing up voters and volunteers and making sure everyone's excited to get active and help us work to elect Democrats in the fall."

Tickets are free and can be reserved by going to the College Democrats website. Students and community members are welcome to attend.

Campbell said he hopes to fill Rackham Auditorium, which holds 1,125 people.

Dean, who served six terms as Vermont's governor from 1991 to 2003, ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009 and became known in 2004 for his famous scream.

U.S. Congressmen Mark Schauer, D-Battle Creek, and John Dingell, D-Dearborn, also are expected to speak at the event. Schauer represents Michigan's 7th Congressional District, which includes parts of Washtenaw County. Dingell represents Michigan's 15th Congressional District, which includes Ann Arbor.

Schauer sent letters today to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Labor, calling for an investigation of allegations of undocumented workers being used to clean up the Enbridge oil spill.

“It’s outrageous that Enbridge allowed undocumented workers to be hired to clean up the spill, showing complete disregard for our country’s labor laws," Schauer said, adding that the situation is particularly troubling given the state's high unemployment rate. "Our workers have been turned away as undocumented workers were brought in on buses from Texas."

Schauer faces Republican Tim Walberg in the November election. Dingell faces Republican Rob Steele.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.