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Joplin Councilmember becomes president of National League of Cities

Melodee Colbert-Kean
Melodee Colbert-Kean

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Melodee Colbert-Kean, the Zone II Councilmember for the city of Joplin, will become president of the National League of Cities (NLC) at the Congress of Cities convention in Nashville this week. Colbert-Kean also served as the Southwest Missouri town’s mayor from April 2012 to April 2014.

Colbert-Kean will be the third Missouri mayor to lead the organization, and the first to do so in more than 50 years. Former St. Louis mayor Raymond Tucker served as President in 1960 and former Kansas City mayor W.F. Kemp did so in 1954.

In her role as president, Colbert-Kean will serve as an advocate for over 19,000 cities, towns and villages that count themselves as members of the NLC. In her term, she says she would like to focus on improving infrastructure, e-fairness and marketplace fairness, and continuing tax-exempt municipal bonds.

“Many cities are taking the lead on shaping growth with creative partnerships,” Colbert-Kean said in a statement. “These help keep a city’s infrastructure, recreational needs and employment base strong.”

Colbert-Kean will serve a one-year term as the organization’s president after being elected by NLC’s membership

In the past, she has served on the Missouri Municipal League’s Economic Development & Human Resources Committee, and as chair of the its Natural Resources and Urban Development Committee.

“It’s fantastic to see Missouri represented at the top level in this important organization, and we know Melodee will play a vital role in strengthening communities across the country,” said Dan Ross, the executive director of the league.