Oklahoma City, Okla. — As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, leaders of the nation’s seven principal state and local government organizations convened April 20 in Oklahoma City for a historic State and Local Leadership Summit focused on the future of American federalism and intergovernmental collaboration. The convening was hosted by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, Chair of the National Governors Association, and organized by the National League of Cities in its role as Chair of the Big Seven State and Local Government Associations.
Two hundred and fifty years into the American experiment, Big Seven leaders gathered not to celebrate past achievements, but to take stock of a governing system intentionally designed to share and balance power across federal, state, tribal and local governments. That system has delivered extraordinary progress — and, at times, real friction. Both realities shaped the discussions.
Participants included governors, state legislators, mayors, councilmembers, county officials, and local government professionals representing communities across the country. The summit also featured a presentation and discussion with Dr. John Dinan, Professor and Chair of the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Wake Forest University, a nationally recognized expert on federalism, who provided historical and contemporary context for the evolving intergovernmental landscape.
Following the summit, Big Seven leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening the federal–state–local partnership.
“Governors, legislators, mayors, councilmembers, county officials and local government professionals came together to do the work intergovernmental leadership demands at its best: not seeking easy agreement, but engaging in open dialogue, rigorous idea exchange and deliberate trust‑building,” the leaders said. “What unites us is a shared responsibility to our residents and a common conviction that American federalism — when all its parts are functioning — remains among the most resilient and adaptive forms of self‑governance ever created. We thank Governor Stitt for hosting this gathering and reaffirm our commitment to the hard and necessary work of governing this great nation alongside our federal and intergovernmental partners.”
During the convening, the Big Seven discussed:
- The role of the Big Seven in a rapidly evolving intergovernmental landscape, including shared challenges, emerging trends and opportunities for collaboration;
- How the Big Seven can more effectively serve residents by advancing shared priorities; and
- How the Big Seven can collectively protect and advance the essential elements of federalism and our nation’s democratic principles that enable effective leadership, shared accountability, and better outcomes for communities.
The Big Seven State and Local Government Organizations are the National Governors Association (NGA), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the Council of State Governments (CSG), the National League of Cities (NLC), the National Association of Counties (NACo), the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
The convening included the following participants:
- National Governors Association (NGA)
- Dr. Brandon Tatum, NGA CEO
- Governor Kevin Stitt, State of Oklahoma, NGA Chair (Host)
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
- Tim Storey, CEO, NCSL
- Marcus Evans, Illinois House Assistant Majority Leader, NCSL President
- Barry Usher, Montana Senate Majority Whip, NCSL President-Elect
- Council of State Governments (CSG)
- David Adkins, CSG Executive Director/CEO
- Elgie Sims, Jr., State Senator, Illinois, CSG 2025 National Chair
- National League of Cities (NLC)
- Clarence Anthony, NLC CEO and Executive Director, Chair of Big Seven
- Councilmember Kevin Kramer, Louisville, Ky, NLC President
- Mayor Van R. Johnson II, Savannah, Georgia, NLC 1st Vice President
- National Association of Counties (NACo)
- Matt Chase, CEO/Executive Director, NACo
- JD Clark, Judge, Wise County, Texas, NACo President
- George Dunlap, Commissioner, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, NACo 1st Vice President
- U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM)
- Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director, USCM
- David Holt, Mayor, Oklahoma City, USCM President
- Leirion Gaylor Baird, Mayor, Lincoln, Nebraska, USCM 2nd Vice President
- International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
- Julia Novak, CEO/Executive Director
- Mike Land, City Manager, Coppell, Texas, ICMA President
- Andy Pederson, Village Manager, Bayside, Wisconsin, ICMA Incoming President
- Tanya Ange, County Administrator, Washington County, Oregon, ICMA Immediate Past President
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The National League of Cities (NLC) is the voice of America’s cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people across the country. NLC works to strengthen local leadership, influence federal policy and drive innovative solutions. Stay connected with NLC on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.