For Immediate Release
January 31, 2006
Contact: Ben Krompak
krompak@benkonop.com or 419.260-5064

Konop Seeks 'Cool County' To Attract Skilled Workforce
Candidate To Announce Initiative and Host a Roundtable Discussion at the
University of Toledo

Toledo, OH - Recognizing the need for a regional strategy for retaining
and attracting young professionals and entrepreneurs, Lucas County
Commissioner candidate Ben Konop will announce his "Cool County
Initiative" and host a roundtable discussion of young people this
Wednesday, February 1, at 6:30 P.M. at the University of Toledo's
Student Union Room 3018. Area media are invited to attend.

Inspired by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm's "Cool Cities
Initiative," Konop seeks to bring together students and young
professionals with policymakers and business leaders to hatch and
incubate projects aimed at making our region a magnet for talent in the
creative economy. Konop believes that this needs to be a key component
of our region's economic development plan.

Participants in Wednesday's roundtable discussion will address the
questions, "What makes a place cool?" and "how can Lucas County become
'cool' and keep its young people from leaving?"

Ben Konop, age 29, was born and raised in Lucas County and educated in
the public schools of Lucas County. He earned a B.A. in History from
Emory University, a Law Degree from the University of Michigan College
of Law, and attended Oxford University in England. He has worked for
Toledo Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Federal Judge James Carr, and Lucas
County Common Pleas Court Judge Fred McDonald.

Ben is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at The University
of Toledo College of Law as well as a practicing attorney. He also
serves as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Bluffton
University and has previously taught at the Ohio Northern University
College of Law. In 2004, Ben ran for U.S. Congress against Republican
Mike Oxley. Prior to that, Konop practiced law in Washington, D.C. at
the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP.

Ben sits on the Boards of Directors of Connecting Point of Toledo, The
Catholic Club of Toledo, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of NW Ohio. He is
also the Past President of the Lucas County Citizens Levy Review
Committee and is a member of the Ohio and Toledo Bar Associations. Ben
is a proud homeowner in the Downtown Toledo Warehouse District.