By Debra DeHaney-Howard
June 27, 2005

Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill was elected President of The United States Conference of Mayors at the business session of the 73rd Annual Meeting on June 13 in Chicago. The membership also elected Dearborn (MI) Mayor Michael A. Guido as Vice President and Trenton (NJ) Mayor Douglas H. Palmer as Chair of the Advisory Board for 2005-06.

The thirteen member nominating committee, which was appointed by Conference President Akron (OH) Mayor Don Plusquellic and chaired by Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, recommended O'Neill, Guido, and Palmer for the Conference's top leadership positions when it met during the Annual Meeting.

In addition to selecting the top three officers, the Conference membership also filled vacancies on the organization's Trustee and Advisory Board. Named to Trustee were Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and Sugar Land (TX) Mayor David Wallace. New Advisory Board members are Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich; Portsmouth (VA) Mayor James W. Holley, III; Redmond (WA) Mayor Rosemarie Ives; Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans; San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate; and Richmond (VA) Douglas Wilder.

The top three officers serve one-year terms; while the thirteen Trustees and 27 Advisory Board members serve as long as they remain in city hall.