Lazzara, 皮特 to Lead Organization for the Next Year
September 23, 2017
(GREENVILLE, N.C.) – Jacksonville Mayor Pro Tem Michael Lazzara was chosen by representatives from cities and towns across North Carolina on Friday to lead the North Carolina League of Municipalities for the next year.
Lazzara was selected as president of the League after having served as vice president over the past year. Washington City Council Member William 皮特 was elected by the membership as League vice president. The elections took place as the organization held its annual conference at the Greenville Convention Center in Greenville. CityVision 2017 attracted more than 400 municipal officials from around the state as they gathered for programming that included looks at entrepreneurial solutions for economic development, regional approaches to municipal challenges, and Smart Cities technology.
Lazzara begins his term as League president after having served on the Jacksonville City Council since 2005. The Marine Corps veteran is successful business owner who operates restaurants up and down the East Coast.
“One of the great things about this organization – and about this state – is the diversity of our membership and of our cities and towns. Over the next year, I really want us to both recognize that as a strength and then take advantage of this strength," Lazzara told city and towns officials gathered for the conference. “I come from a military community, Jacksonville, that has challenges and strengths common to all cities and towns, and has challenges and strengths unique to military communities."
“The diversity of our cities and towns – and the uniqueness of each – adds to the overall economic strength of our state," he continued. “It has been and can continue to be a political strength of this organization."
Lazzara replaces outgoing president Bob Matheny, Mayor of Zebulon, who has now served in public office for four decades.
League Executive Director Paul Meyer praised Matheny's service to the organization and the progress made during his tenure.
“We enjoyed one of the most successful legislative sessions in many years in 2017, and Mayor Matheny was a key part of that success, taking an active role in advocacy efforts," Meyer said. “During his tenure as an officer and member of the Board of Directors, the League undertook major structural changes that led to improvements to our advocacy and grassroots efforts, insurance operations, and membership services. His leadership was crucial to all of those efforts."
Meyer said he looked forward to even more success under the leadership of Lazzara and 皮特.
“Both are proven leaders in their communities and in this organization. I know that both will do terrific jobs over the next year," he said.
皮特, serving his eighth year on the Washington City Council, has a long history of involvement in League activities, serving on policy committees and the NCLM Board of Directors.
Attendees at CityVision 2017 also heard from National League of Cities President Matt Zone, State Treasurer Dale Folwell, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Linda McGee and state Supreme Court Justice Barbara Jackson.
About the League
The North Carolina League of Municipalities is a membership association of 540 great hometowns – representing nearly every municipality in the state. The League advocates for its members, from the largest city to the smallest village, on the full range of legislative issues that affect municipalities.
For more than 100 years, the League has promoted – and continues to promote – good government by offering non-partisan advocacy, insurance and other services – as directed by its membership.
