HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Montana Democrats are meeting in Bozeman to pick new leaders and hear from their top elected officials.

The 2009 Officers and Rules Convention kicks off Friday afternoon on the Montana State University Campus.

The party will pick a new chairman and other officers on Saturday.

So far, former legislator Jim Elliott of Trout Creek is the only announced candidate. Current Chairman Dennis McDonald is instead running for Congress.

Top elected officials including U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and Gov. Brian Schweitzer are scheduled to speak Saturday.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-08-28-09 0730EDT