National League of Cities Inducts Officers
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe National League of Cities has inducted its 2018 officers: President Mark Stodola, 1st Vice President Karen Freeman-Wilson (pictured), 2nd Vice President Joe Buscaino and Immediate Past President Matt Zone. Freeman-Wilson is mayor of Gary, Buscaino is a Los Angeles councilmember and Zone is a councilmember in Cleveland. Freeman-Wilson most recently served as 2nd vice president for the NLC.
Mayor Mark Stodola of Little Rock, Arkansas, was elected president of the NLC at the organization’s summit in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has served as Little Rock mayor since 2007 and will lead the nation’s largest and most representative membership and advocacy organization for cities and their leaders. Stodola was elected by the membership to serve a one-year term and will lead NLC’s advocacy, education, research and membership activities.
In his inaugural address to the NLC membership, Stodola announced that his priorities over the coming year will include helping city leaders prepare their cities’ workforces to be competitive in a 21st century global economy. With federal proposals to cut workforce development funding and Community Development Block Grants, local leadership is key to expanding equity and opportunity, closing the economic divide and growing prosperity in America’s cities.
Stodola’s career in public service includes terms as a prosecuting attorney and city attorney. In those roles, he focused on gang violence and developed the first Domestic Violence Unit in Arkansas. He was also recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Justice for creating an innovative juvenile diversion program.
The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.