Anaheim Wants to Host a Political Party

The 2004 national political conventions haven’t even started, but Anaheim city officials said Tuesday that they want to play host to either the Republicans or Democrats in 2008.

Pronouncing “Next Time Anaheim ‘08,” city promoters plan to open their bid with a breakfast next week at the Democratic National Convention in Boston and a reception at the Republican National Convention, which starts Aug. 30 in New York.

“As far as we know, no other city in the state has expressed interest,” Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle said.

“We want to get out there early.”

A postcard announcing the city’s intent -- with a montage of the Disneyland Resort, Angel Stadium and Orange County surfers -- invited Democratic National Committee members and the California delegation to a breakfast at the Sheraton Boston Hotel.

The members, who will ultimately select the host city, will be wooed with a breakfast and a bag filled with Anaheim goodies, including Post-it Notes and luggage tags with the “Next Time Anaheim” motto.

Councilman Richard Chavez plans to represent the city in Boston; Pringle will attend the Republican convention in New York.

It’s not unusual for cities to start courting decision-makers early.

At the 2000 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, Boston officials also hosted an event extolling the merits of their city.

Chavez said he would leave for the Democratic convention next Wednesday wearing his “best Anaheim suit” and ready with the sales pitch.

“Regardless of which convention, it would be a real shot in the economic arm of Orange County as a whole and, specifically, Anaheim,” Chavez said.

Boston leaders estimate that the convention will inject about $150 million into the local economy as about 5,000 delegates and alternates, thousands of journalists, hundreds of protesters and security officers flood the city next week.

The official bids won’t be due for a couple years, but Anaheim boosters already have retained Ogilvy Public Relations, whose senior vice president is Mindy Tucker Fletcher, former communications director for the Republican National Committee and press secretary for the 2000 Bush campaign.

A nonprofit corporation called Anaheim 2008 Convention Host Committee is also being formed to help with fundraising and planning. It will be headed by Republican political strategist Jeff Flint.