District 6 Councilmember Kevin Thompson has been named the Chair of the National League of Cities' (NLC) Community and Economic Development (CED) Federal Advocacy Committee for 2020. Thompson, who served as Vice Chair for the past two years, will begin his fifth term on the committee. The appointment was announced by NLC President Joe Buscaino, Councilmember from Los Angeles.
The CED Committee is charged with issues dealing with housing, community and economic development, land use, parks and recreation, historic preservation and international competitiveness.
"I am honored to be appointed as Chair of the CED committee and to represent Mesa on the national stage," Councilmember Thompson said. "I look forward to refocusing the discussions and bringing attention to workforce housing, small and medium business expansion for job creation, working to identify barriers to employing our veterans and their spouses and barriers to employing disenfranchised populations."
Councilmember Thompson becomes the fourth elected official from Mesa to chair an NLC policy committee, joining Councilmember David Luna, who chaired the Information Technology and Communications Committee in 2017, former Councilmember Scott Somers, who chaired the Public Safety & Crime Prevention Committee in 2014 and former Councilmember Dennis Kavanaugh, who served as Chair of the Information Technology and Communications Committee in 2004.
In addition to chairing the CED Committee, Councilmember Thompson will also join the NLC Board of Directors for 2020. Thompson will represent Mesa on the Board along with District 5 Councilmember David Luna, who was re-appointed to his second term on the Board in November.
"I am excited to have Councilmember Thompson join me in serving on the NLC Board of Directors," said Councilmember Luna. "I look forward to representing the City of Mesa with him."
The National League of Cities is the nation's largest and most prestigious organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, town and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. The City of Mesa joined NLC in 1966.
NLC's Federal Advocacy Committee members include local elected officials and city staff from NLC member cities and towns across the country who are committed to discussing and influencing federal policy that has a direct and profound impact on local government operations.