Mayor Benjamin elected Second Vice President of United States Conference of Mayors
June 27, 2016
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin was elected Second Vice President of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) earlier today at this year’s annual meeting in Indianapolis, positioning Columbia at the heart of municipal leadership for the nation and paving the way for him to assume the organization’s presidency in 2018.
“Being elected by my peers to help lead an organization that has stood as the voice for cities like ours across America since 1933 is a truly great honor,” said Mayor Benjamin. “Furthermore, this honor brings with it significant practical benefits for our city as a whole especially when you’re talking about access to best practices, grant funds and economic development prospects.”
With his election today, Mayor Benjamin follows in the tradition of former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley who served as the organization’s President from 1986 to 1987.
Mayor Benjamin will succeed current vice president Mayor Mitchell Landrieu (New Orleans) and will serve under new USCM President Mayor Mick Cornett, (Oklahoma City).
Mayor Benjamin has served as a trustee for the USCM since 2012 and as vice chair for communications on the organization’s Transportation and Communications standing committee.
The Conference is comprised of mayors of cities and towns all across the United States and allows member mayors to contribute to the development of national urban policy.
About the U.S. Conference of Mayors:
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor.
