Several members of the Gadsden City Council have been appointed to serve on committees for the National League of Cities in 2021.

Dr. Cynthia W. Toles, Deverick Williams, Kent Back and Ben Reed were all elected to one-year terms to provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities.

As committee members, the Gadsden Council members will play key roles among a diverse group of local leaders in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocating on behalf of America’s cities and towns before Congress, with the administration and at home.

“Our federal advocacy committees are the voices of what’s happening on the ground in our communities,” said Kathy Maness, councilmember of Lexington, South Carolina, and President of the National League of Cities.

Maness added that she is proud to have the Gadsden Council members join their respective committees.

“Together with a team of local leaders from around the country, we will work to solve the most pressing challenges facing our communities,” Maness said.

Toles, President of the Gadsden City Council, was appointed to the NLC’s Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee’s Federal Advocacy Committee.

“We all have a big interest in water quality.  It’s been an issue across our country, and locally as well.  I look forward to collaborating from a national standpoint to ensure protection for our water supply and other natural resources,” Toles said.

The leadership of this year’s EENR committee will consist of Chair Ellen Smith, Councilmember, City of Oak Ridge, TN, and Vice Chair Cindy Dyballa, Councilmember, City of Tacoma Park, MD, and Vice Chair Adrian Hernandez, Councilmember, City of Pearland, TX.

Both Williams and Back were appointed to the Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Committee.

“I feel very privileged to work with this committee to help shape policy regarding important issues that affect our city, as well as other cities and towns across the country,” Williams said.

“I am honored to be selected to serve on the Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations Committee,” Back said. “This involvement allows me to learn from other elected officials from across the country, and to bring home ideas and policies that will help Gadsden become a better city. In addition, it provides a conduit for Gadsden’s desires to be heard on a national level.”

The leadership of this year’s FAIR committee will consist of Chair Mark Douglas, Commissioner, City of Sunrise, FL, Vice Chair Victoria Farrar-Myers, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem, City of Arlington, TX, and Vice Chair Matt Orlando, Councilmember, City of Chandler, AZ.

Reed was appointed to the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee.

“I feel very privileged to be appointed to this committee and will work to make our community and our nation a safer place for our residents,” Reed said.

The leadership of this year’s PSCP committee will consist of Chair Alan Wapner, Councilmember, City of Ontario, CA, and Vice Chair Sheri Lauritano, Councilmember, City of Goodyear, AZ.

For more information on NLC’s federal advocacy committees, visit: www.nlc.org/advocacy/committees. 

The National League of Cities (NLC) 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.