Springfield mayor elected to national board

Springfield’s mayor was one of 22 members elected last week to the league’s board of directors at a four-day conference in Charlotte, N.C. He estimates about 50 league members vied for the available positions on the board, made up of 40 total elected officials and all past presidents.

Carlson will serve a two-year term and has been a member of the league for about 15 years, he said.

The board will meet several times a year to shape the league’s priorities and direct its advocacy, research and membership activities. Members will be briefed on national issues, Carlson said, and decide a position to take for each.

“The whole idea is that you have mayors and council people from all over the country to bring their own experiences to the table in deciding how to set policy,” Carlson said.

The election concluded the league’s 2005 Congress of Cities, where 3,000 local government leaders discussed initiatives to meet a variety of challenges such as disaster preparedness, economic development and communication technology.

Springfield City Council offered its congratulations to the mayor, passing a resolution at its meeting last night honoring Carlson for his achievement.