Mayor Jodi Miller, Councilmember Bradley Carter and NLC CEO Clarence E. Anthony share how national leadership can strengthen local leadership
WASHINGTON — With the Sept. 28 deadline to apply for National League of Cities (NLC) leadership positions approaching, local officials interested in expanding their impact beyond their own communities have an opportunity to serve in leadership roles across the organization.
In a new episode of the National League of Cities’ CitiesSpeak podcast, NLC President Kevin Kramer speaks with Freeport, Ill. Mayor Jodi Miller; Oklahoma City, Okla. Councilmember Bradley Carter; and NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence E. Anthony about their paths through NLC leadership and how those experiences have strengthened their work as public servants.
Applications are open through Sept. 28 for local officials interested in serving on NLC’s Board of Directors or applying for leadership roles with NLC’s constituency groups, member councils or federal advocacy committees.
What Local Leaders Should Know
NLC leadership can strengthen the work local officials are already doing at home. Miller has served as Vice Chair of the Small Cities Council and the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee and has served on NLC’s Board of Directors since 2023. She says connecting with leaders from across the country has given her new ideas, relationships and perspectives to bring back to Freeport.
“NLC has given me ideas, relationships and a national perspective that I can bring home to Freeport. And I think that’s one of the greatest benefits of being involved. You don’t just represent your community at NLC, you bring NLC back to your community.” — Mayor Jodi Miller, Freeport, Ill.
Local officials have more to contribute than they may realize. Carter, who serves on NLC’s Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Military Communities Council, says NLC leadership allows local officials to learn from communities facing similar challenges while sharing lessons from their own cities.
“You’ve got more to bring to this table and to the group and the conversation than you probably realize. And unless you’re challenged, you’re not going to understand how much you actually have that brings that value to it.” — Councilmember Bradley Carter, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Communities of every size need a voice at the national level. Anthony reflects on his path from serving as mayor of South Bay, Fla., a community of roughly 9,000 residents, to becoming president of NLC. His experience reinforced that national leadership provides an opportunity for officials from communities of all sizes to bring their residents’ experiences into broader policy discussions.
“What that showed me was the National League of Cities represented every size of city, whether it’s rural, small, whether it’s urban, whether it’s large. I mean, it is a place that if you put in your time and you commit to the work and you know that there’s a voice that is needed, the National League of Cities is that place that you can be a part of it.” — Clarence E. Anthony, NLC CEO and Executive Director
NLC leadership applications are open through Sept. 28. Local officials interested in serving on NLC’s Board of Directors, constituency groups, member councils or federal advocacy committees can learn more and apply now.
Listen to the full conversation, also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
About CitiesSpeak
Each episode of NLC’s podcast, CitiesSpeak with Clarence Anthony, dives into a critical issue facing local leaders today, featuring conversations with elected leaders and policy experts from across the country. The podcast is a relaxed and entertaining resource for local policymakers looking for ideas and information to bring back to their communities. The podcast is hosted by NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony, who previously served as mayor of South Bay, Florida, for more than two decades.
New episodes of CitiesSpeak are available on all major podcasting platforms and on YouTube. If you have feedback for the show or ideas for future guests, email us. Happy listening!
CitiesSpeak Podcast: Applying for NLC Leadership with Mayor Jodi Miller, Councilmember Bradley Carter & Clarence E. Anthony
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