November 22, 2010

The Executive Committee of The U.S. Conference of Mayors has voted to present Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley the highest award given to an individual by mayors of the United States of America: The United States Conference of Mayors Award for Distinguished Public Service.

Daley was nominated by Conference of Mayors President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz.

Daley announced on September 7 that he would not seek a seventh term in office. Having first been elected mayor in April 1989, Daley's tenure will end on May 16, 2011.

As had his father Richard J. Daley, Richard M. Daley served as Conference of Mayors President from 1996-1997.

As the 54th Conference of Mayors President, Daley focused on crime and drug control, job creation, reducing inflexible and unfunded federal mandates, brownfields redevelopment, and of course mayoral leadership on improvement of public schools.

Without question, the leadership provided by Daley in promoting the role of mayors in public education defined a new agenda for the Conference of Mayors, and indeed the nation.

Daley also hosted two Conference of Mayors Annual Meetings (1990 and 2005), and secured the 81st Annual Conference of Mayors to be held in Chicago in June of 2013.

The Award for Distinguished Public Service will be presented to Daley during the 79th Winter Meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington (DC).