San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has assumed the presidency of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, marking a historic first for the bipartisan organisation of American city leaders.
Gloria was installed as the organisation’s 84th president during its 94th Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California, where mayors from across the United States gathered to discuss policy priorities affecting cities.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors represents cities with populations of 30,000 or more and advocates on municipal issues before Congress and federal agencies. Its website says more than 1,500 U.S. cities fall within its membership scope.
Gloria is also the first mayor of San Diego to lead the organisation. His agenda is expected to focus on three major issues facing U.S. cities: affordable housing, public safety and expanding economic opportunity.
His election carries symbolic weight beyond city policy. Gloria, who has Filipino, Puerto Rican, Dutch and Native American ancestry, is one of the most prominent Filipino American figures in U.S. local government. He has served as mayor of San Diego since 2020, when he became the city’s first openly LGBTQ+ person and first person of colour elected to the office.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors described his presidency as a historic milestone, saying it is the first time an openly gay mayor has held the position. Gloria succeeds Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, who served as president during the previous year.
Source: San Diego Tribune
