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Mayor Pro Tempore is only North Carolina representative on the federal committee

TRYON—Tryon’s Mayor Pro Tempore was appointed to the National League of Cities 2021 Information Technology and Communications Federal Advocacy Committee. 

Chrelle Booker is the only North Carolina resident on the federal/national committee for 2021. She was appointed to a one-year term.  

The committee has 30 members appointed across the United States, plus 3 leaders. 

The NLC represents more than 218 million Americans and is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages across the country. 

Booker was appointed to the information technology and communications committee, which is responsible for developing policy positions and leading NLC’s advocacy on issues involving broadband access and affordability, net neutrality, cable TV, phone services, spectrum issues, wireless facilities siting, smart cities, cyber security, telecommunications and information systems, privacy concerns, communications tower siting, universal service broadcasting and defense of city rights-of-way from degradation caused by installation of communications facilities. 

Booker said she wants to represent her community and contribute her voice by having the opportunity to impact the direction of the NLC and even national policy. 

“Local leaders are on the frontline of the nation’s most pressing challenges and pioneering innovative solutions that move our cities, towns and villages forward,” Booker said. 

Booker will be attending a virtual meeting with Congress soon. Normally, the NLC would go to Washington and meet before Congress but this year will be done virtually because of Covid-19. 

NLC President Kathy Maness, councilmember, Lexington, South Carolina announced Booker’s appointment this week.

“I am honored to represent Tryon and Polk County on the federal and national levels as your Mayor Pro Tempore,” Booker said. “It is my hope that this appointment will equip us with what is needed to build a better county in the form of information technology and communications. I will go before Congress advocating, presenting issues and making congressmen/congresswomen see that you all are humans we serve in the capacity of who elected us, and it is you all we represent.

You are our neighbors, brothers and sisters and we should value each of you. In this role, I will serve and respect the more than 218 million Americans in our 19,000 cities, towns and villages, as well as I have served you, the 1,700 citizens of Tryon.” 

As a committee member, Booker will play a key role among a diverse group of local leaders in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocating on behalf of America’s cities and towns before Congress, with the administration and at home.

“Our federal advocacy committees are the voices of what’s happening on the ground in our communities,” said Maness. “I am proud to have Chrelle Booker join NLC’s Information Technology and Communications Federal Advocacy committee on behalf of her residents. Together with a team of local leaders from around the country, we will work to solve the most pressing challenges facing our communities.”

The leadership of this year’s committee will consist of Chair Joe Fogle Councilor, Loveland, CO, Vice Chair Alix Desulme, Vice Mayor, North Miami, FL, and Vice Chair Susan Norton, Chief of Staff, Fayetteville, AR.

For more information on NLC’s federal advocacy committees, visit: www.nlc.org/advocacy/committees.