By Ed Somers
June 27, 2005

In reviewing his year as President of the Conference of Mayors, Akron (OH) Mayor Don Plusqellic discussed both the honor of serving and disappointment that more could not have been accomplished.

Plusquellic began his remarks by thanking his fellow officers, Mayors Beverly O'Neill of Long Beach and Michael Guido of Dearborn, for their support over the past year. He also thanked Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran and his staff.

And he thanked all the mayors for their work in their own communities, on behalf of the Conference of Mayors. "Mayors are the hardest working public officials in America," Plusquellic said.

In discussing some of the highlights, Plusquellic mentioned moments like meeting former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, introducing United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and "just being introduced as President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors." He also discussed the progress made through the homeland security funding task force on which he served as Vice Chair.

But in identifying his frustrations, Plusquellic said, "holding on to CDBG as the last remaining federal program to assist cities is a victory in many ways, but I only wish we could have done more."

The mayor said that he is very concerned about the direction of the country, especially as compared to what he has seen around the world, such as the national investment in education made in Ireland.

He said he is proud of his attempt to focus the candidates for President on the need for a national investment strategy, and the partnership with the National League of Cities and National Association of Counties in this effort. He also thanked leaders like Representative Mike Turner (OH), Senator Norm Coleman (MN) and George Voinovich (OH) for recognizing the need to a continued federal-local partnership.

In concluding, Plusquellic pledged to help incoming President O'Neill in any way possible, and to remain a strong and vocal advocate for cities.