By Rhonda A. Spears
August 4, 2003

Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner and Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran recently joined Marc Morial, the new President and CEO of the National Urban League for its Annual Conference in Pittsburgh. The meeting marked the beginning of a new era for the National Urban League where Morial, the former mayor of New Orleans and past president of the Conference of Mayors, officially took the helm of the historic organization. Morial officially opened the Conference with his inaugural address on Sunday, July 27.

The following day, July 28, Garner addressed the opening session of the National Urban League where he discussed the long history of partnership between The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Urban League and committed to strengthening and building that partnership.

In addressing the delegates of the Conference, Garner discussed the national, bi-partisan, urban and suburban Action Agenda that the Conference of Mayors was developing to identify and prioritize key issues for the '04 Presidential election. He challenged the Urban League to do the same. "I am sure that with the vision and leadership of your new president and CEO, Marc Morial, the National Urban League will develop a similar agenda around your key priorities. Together, as equal partners, let's bring one common agenda to the '04 Presidential election," he said.

Garner went on to ask the Urban League to stand with the Conference of Mayors, along with major corporations and other key organizations to move this Action Agenda forward. "We must have cities and businesses — mayors and CEOs — standing together for the long-term prosperity of America," he continued.

Garner Meets with President Bush at National Urban League Conference

Following his speech, Garner joined Morial and Chairman of the Board, Michael Critelli, in a meeting with President George W. Bush, who addressed the Conference later that morning. As President Bush spoke, he acknowledged Mayor Garner as "his good friend" and President of the U. S. Conference of Mayors.