Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer was elected Saturday to the board of directors of the National League of Cities (NLC). The action came at the New Orleans Convention Center during Saturday’s closing general session of the annual Congress of Cities and Exposition sponsored by the NLC.
 
Mayor Brewer’s election to the NLC leadership post follows the precedent established by former Wichita Mayor Bob Knight, who was elected NLC president in 1999. Knight supported Mayor Brewer in his board candidacy, as did a cross section of Kansas political and civic officers and organizations.

Mayor Brewer was endorsed by the League of Kansas Municipalities and also by statewide and congressional office holders Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, and U.S. Representatives Todd Tiahrt, Jerry Moran, Dennis Moore and Nancy Boyda. Also offering endorsements were Sedgwick County Commission Chair Dave Unruh, Sedgwick County Commissioner Tom Winters, who chairs the South Central Kansas Regional Economic Area Partnership (REAP), and Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce President Bryan Derreberry. He also had the support of the National Black Caucus/Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO), an entity within the NLC.

“It is a great honor to be chosen to help lead this important organization,” Brewer said. “Cities across the country have common interests, regardless of their size. It is my hope that I can assist the NLC in finding solutions to the great challenges that face municipal government.”

In addition to the Mayor, Council Members Sue Schlapp, Paul Gray, Jeff Longwell and Lavonta Williams attended all or part of the five-day conference.

The National League of Cities started in Kansas 83 years ago. It is the oldest and largest national organization representing municipal governments throughout the United States. Its mission is to strengthen and promote cities as centers of opportunity, leadership, and governance.

Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, the National League of Cities serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages, and towns it represents.

For more information, contact Dale Goter, Government Relations Manager, 371-0134 (dgoter@wichita.gov)

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