Vanderbilt taps 26 notable names to democracy project board

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Vanderbilt University initiative aimed at bridging the gap of political polarization in the U.S. has named 26 members to its advisory board, ranging from politicians to musicians. The Vanderbilt Project on Unity & American Democracy on Tuesday announced a panel that includes prominent political and government voices. Among them are former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former U.S. Attorney General and current Belmont University law school dean Alberto Gonzales, Bill Clinton’s former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles, and former U.S. ambassador to China and governor Washington state governor Gary Locke. Joining them are country music artists Martina McBride, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.