San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria Elected President of U.S. Conference of Mayors

-Editorial 

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) elected a new leadership team and approved a slate of policy resolutions that will serve as the organization’s advocacy agenda for the year ahead. His fellow mayors elected San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria to serve as the next President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He will serve a one-year term. The meeting marked the close of USCM’s 94th Annual Meeting, which convened more than 200 bipartisan mayors from across the country in Long Beach, CA.

With his election, Gloria becomes the first Mayor from San Diego to serve as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the first openly LGBTQ+ mayor elected to lead the organization in its history. 

“Though America’s mayors represent communities of every size and region, we share a common mission: delivering results that improve the lives of our residents,” said President Gloria. “At a time when too many families are struggling with the rising cost of living, mayors are focused on practical solutions. That starts with tackling the housing shortage, but also addressing public safety, economic opportunity, and the quality-of-life issues residents care about most. Our job as mayors is to use our collective voice to advance solutions that make a real impact for our residents.”  

“Mayor Gloria is the right leader to guide this Conference through a pivotal year for American cities,” said Tom Cochran, USCM CEO and Executive Director. “He understands that mayors are the leaders closest to the challenges residents face and closest to the solutions. Mayor Gloria has shown how pragmatic, results-oriented leadership can improve lives, and his colleagues could not have chosen a better leader to meet today’s challenges head-on.”

In addition to electing Gloria as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the organization elected Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird as first vice president and Columbia, South Carolina, Mayor Daniel Rickenmann as second vice president. The conference also named new trustees and advisory board members.

Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves was elected as a new trustee of the organization. Newly appointed advisory board members include Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman, Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and Sheboygan Mayor Ryan Sorenson.

A major component of the meeting was the consideration and adoption of policy resolutions. During the annual meeting, the conference’s standing committees advanced resolutions addressing a range of priorities for U.S. cities. Delegates approved policies urging congressional action on pending housing legislation, protecting federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and key housing assistance programs, and supporting federal funding for local law enforcement and violence prevention initiatives. Additional resolutions addressed energy, environmental policy, transportation, international relations, and economic issues.

The conference, in partnership with Americans for the Arts, also presented the final of four Citizen Artist Awards to hip-hop artist Chuck D. Earlier in the week, awards were presented to actor Danny Trejo, pop artist Edward Ruscha, and rapper Snoop Dogg in recognition of their contributions to the arts and service to their communities.