RC mayor ready to witness history

Leading up to the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, the Daily Bulletin will profile several Inland Valley residents attending the ceremonies in Washington D.C.

The first of seven stories on the upcoming event was about Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Don Kurth.

In the story, he said he plans to take advantage of the trip by speaking with area federal representatives about Obama's bailout package.

Kurth also plans to attend several events and catch up with his former Harvard Kennedy School of Government classmates. One event is a party given by some of his Harvard "buddies" asking everyone to come dressed up as a United State political figure, mistress, the nation's founders or CNN political star.

The trip, which Kurth is paying for out of his pocket, began Thursday and concludes Jan.21

The Mayor will be accompanied by his wife on the trip and will stay with her relatives to keep the price of their vacation costs down.

"Everything in Washington was booked and everything 50 miles out of the area is also booked," Kurth said.

The couple began saving for their trip back in December and although Kurth said the trip is a little pricey "it is worth it."

Kurth has picked out his suit for the Inaugural Black Tie Gala, but his wife is still on the search for a dress.

"She's picked out a dress that we'll bring with us but when she gets there, she's also going to shop for one," he said.

Although the couple is registered opposite political parties -- Kurth a Republican, his wife a Democrat -- he said in the end it doesn't matter.

"Whether you voted for him or not we need to get behind him and work to get our country back on track," he said.

For the original story click here.