By Larry Jones
December 20, 2006

The National Conference of Democratic Mayors (NCDM) announced December 12 that Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin will replace Trenton (NJ) Mayor Doug Palmer as the organization’s president and serve through January 2008. Franklin will serve the remainder of Palmer’s term, who recently assumed the position of President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, replacing Dearborn (MI) Mayor Michael Guido, who died December 5 after a nine-month battle with cancer.

In a December 12 press statement, Franklin said, “I look forward to working hand-in-hand with the country’s leading mayors and elected officials as we continue to seek and promote innovative solutions to developing stronger, safer and thriving American cities.” She further stated, “With the help of organizations like the National Conference of Democratic Mayors, we will be able to meet the challenges faced by our cities, small and large and build better communities.”

As president, Franklin will forge partnerships with Democratic Governors, members of Congress and leaders at all levels of government to advance policies that rebuild and reinvest in some of the nation’s largest cities.

Commenting on the move, Palmer said “Mayor Franklin has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading mayors since she came into office. As the President of the United States Conference of Mayors, I look forward to working with her to set an agenda to move our country forward. She will do an outstanding job of promoting the Democratic mayors’ agenda nationally.”

In 2001, Franklin became the first female mayor of Atlanta. The city’s 58th mayor, she is also the first African-American woman to serve as mayor of a major Southern city.