By Tom McClimon
December 17, 2007

“It’s a great job, but it’s not easy,” was the message given to new and newly-elected mayors from Conference of Mayors President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer at a new mayors’ seminar. Twenty-three incoming mayors-elect from larger cities from across the country gathered at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University for a three-day seminar on exercising leadership and promoting effective public policy

The 17th biennial Seminar on Transition and Leadership for Newly-Elected Mayors, co'sponsored by the Conference of Mayors and the Institute of Politics, ran November 27-29. The newly-elected mayors participated in a number of sessions led by current and former mayors, academicians, and practitioners. Focusing on training for new city leaders, topics included transitioning from the campaign to city hall, crisis management, budgeting, ethics, public and private partnerships, and press and public relations.

Participating new and newly-elected mayors were: Greg Ballard, Indianapolis; Ralph Becker, Salt Lake City; John Bencivengo, Hamilton (NJ); Chris Beutler, Lincoln; Edward Clark, Greeley; Karl Dean, Nashville; Sheila Dixon, Baltimore; Jerry Ellis, Farmington Hills (MI); Bill Finch, Bridgeport; Jim Fouts, Warren (MI); Bill Gluba, Davenport; William Healy, Canton; Tom Henry; Fort Wayne; Bobby Hopewell, Kalamazoo; Ronald Jones, Garland (TX); Jack Kirksey, Livonia (MI); Larry Langford, Birmingham; Donnalee Lozeau, Nashua; Konstantina Lukes, Worcester; Don Ness, Duluth; Robert Reichert, Macon; Bill Saffo, Wilmington (NC) and Lisa Wong of Fitchburg (MA).

Palmer headed up the list of current and former mayors who participated as faculty members for the program. Palmer encouraged the new mayors to hire good people and to make sure they “tell you what you need to know.” He also advised the new mayors to make sure they take time for themselves and their families and to get involved with the Conference of Mayors.

Many of the Conference of Mayors past and current leadership served as faculty for the seminar. Conference of Mayors Past President and former Knoxville Mayor and current US Ambassador to Poland Victor Ashe shared his outlook on international relations and cities. Conference Past President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, along with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams presented their ideas on effective economic development practices. Former Nashville Mayor and current Institute of Politics Fellow Bill Purcell, and Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry lead the discussions on “Transitioning from the Campaign to City Hall.” Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone was a faculty member for the “Financing Your City” session. Rochester (NY) Mayor Robert Duffy shared with the new mayors his thoughts on dealing with public safety and police issues. Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy led the discussions on dealing with ethical challenges. Providence Mayor David Cicilline and Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon made presentations on ways to improve the performance of city government.

Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran and Jim Leach, Director of the Institute of Politics, served as the seminar’s moderators.

An evening event was held at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, where a number of the nation’s leading political writers shared their perspectives on the upcoming 2008 presidential election. The discussion panel included Dan Balz, National Correspondent for the Washington Post; Kate Philips, Online Politics Editor for the New York Times and Jim VandeHei, Co-founder and Executive Editor of Politico.com.

Leading mayors on climate protection participated in a John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum held for Harvard students, faculty and new mayors. Addressing the issue “Cities Respond to the Climate Crisis” were Palmer, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

“Mayors have to take the lead on this issue,” declared Albuquerque Mayor Chavez. He described how his city has taken the lead on vehicle maintenance programs and help convert the vehicles on being dependent on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. An example of another mayor taking the lead is Nickles who recognized the need to get a large number of communities committed to doing something about climate protection in order to “make a difference.” He began the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which encourages cities to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol and to date over 740 cities have signed on. Hannemann discussed the issue of sustainability and the need to provide incentitives to people to help them undertake sustainable projects and activities. Palmer talked about the importance of using language that the people can understand in discussing climate protection issues.

The Mayors Climate Protection Forum is available for viewing on the Conference of Mayors website: usmayors.org