By Rachel Dixon
July 14, 2008

Miami Mayor Manny A. Diaz was elected President of The United States Conference of Mayors at the Business Session on June 23. The membership also elected Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels as Vice President and Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz as Chair of the Advisory Board for 2008-09.

The nominating committee, appointed by Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer and chaired by Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, recommended Diaz, Nickels and Kautz for the Conference’s top leadership positions when it met.

In addition to selecting the top three officers, the Conference membership also filled vacancies on the organization’s Trustee and Advisory Board. Named to Trustees were Tulsa Mayor Kathryn L. Taylor and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa. New Advisory Board members are as follows: Columbia (MO) Mayor Darwin Hindman; Dallas Mayor Thomas C. Leppert; Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; Santa Ana Mayor Miguel A. Pulido and Green Bay Mayor James J. Schmitt.

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.