By Debra DeHaney-Howard
July 16, 2007

Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer was elected President of The United States Conference of Mayors at the Business Session of the 75th Annual Meeting on June 25 in Los Angeles. The membership also elected Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz as Vice President and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels as Chair of the Advisory Board for 2007-08.

The thirteen member nominating committee, chaired by Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick, recommended Palmer, Diaz, and Nickels 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 Board of Trustees and Advisory Board. Elected Trustee were Columbus (OH) Mayor Michael B. Coleman and Oklahoma City (OK) Mayor Mick Cornett.

New Advisory Board members are as follows: Doral (FL) Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez; East Orange (NJ) Mayor Robert L. Bowser; Hallandale Beach (FL) Mayor Joy Cooper; Des Moines (IA) Mayor T. M. Franklin Cownie; Tallahassee (FL) Mayor John Marks; Meridian (MS) Mayor John Robert Smith; Tulsa (OK) Mayor Kathryn L. Taylor; and Bowling Green (KY) Mayor Elaine N. Walker.

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