DNCC Executive: Look For Security Details In Early Summer

To mark the one-year anniversary of Charlotte's selection to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention, CEO Steve Kerrigan today held the first of what he promises will be regular media briefings to detail status of the planning. A rough outline of the convention has been revealed - including plans for large scale public events at Charlotte Motor Speedway and Bank of America Stadium, where Barack Obama will accept his party's nomination. But many details of most concern to Charlotte area businesses are still fuzzy. For example, how will security affect Uptown businesses that week? Kerrigan says it will be some time yet before the answer comes. "We're working on that with all of our partners across the board locally and federally and we'll roll out a security plan on the timeline they lay out, but traditionally if you look at history it's much later in the process," says Kerrigan, adding early summer is a likely timeframe for more information to be released. Homeland Security, Secret Service and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police are all involved in the plans. CMPD has already said it will not publicly divulge what new equipment is purchased with a $50 million federal security grant for the convention. It's also unlikely the public will get any report on fundraising for the convention until after it takes place. Kerrigan and host committee officials will only say that they they're on track to raise the necessary $36.5 million. Tomorrow the host committee is holding an information session for Charlotte event planners interested in throwing one of many parties that will kick off the convention. The meeting is from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Mint Museum, Duke Energy auditorium.