February 12, 2007

Appearing for the first time at a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, new Washington (DC) Mayor Adrian M. Fenty gave his city’s welcome at the opening plenary session Wednesday, January 24.

Fenty noted that, while the District of Columbia is the seat of local government, the Conference’s Annual Winter Meeting is part of the local hospitality industry and brings in revenue to help the nation’s capital.

He also singled out former two-term Washington Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly for her work on getting voting rights for Washington residents. “Washington still doesn’t have full voting rights for the DC delegate in Congress, despite the fact that 600,000 residents pay federal taxes but are denied voting representation,” the 44-year old mayor said.

Fenty praised Conference President Trenton (NJ) Doug Palmer as the leader of “this excellent organization.” And, as one of the new mayors at the Winter Meeting, he said he was impressed to be here with 250 other mayors from across the U.S.

He also noted that the mayors present had an opportunity to help set the national agenda as the new session of Congress began.

Finally, while urging those present to see the monument while in DC, they should also “spend lots of money to help the local economy.”

Fenty succeeds Mayor Anthony Williams, who decided not to run for another term. Williams was President of the National League of Cities in 2006.