Foster City Council Member Linda Koelling was elected President of the Peninsula Division of the League of California Cities at its annual conference in Long Beach last week. Ms. Koelling previously served as Vice President and Secretary / Treasurer of the Peninsula Division and as a member of the League’s Transportation, Communications and Public Works policy committee. She became a Foster City elected official in November of 2003 and served as Mayor in 2006. She was elected to her second 4-year term in November of 2007.

Ms. Koelling thanked her fellow elected officials from Peninsula Division cities in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties for their past efforts on behalf of California cities. She noted that, as hard as it was to protect city budgets from state “take aways” this year, “next year will be even worse.” She urged her colleagues to continue to work together and with the League as strong and united advocates for cities and their constituents.

As President, Ms. Koelling will represent the Peninsula Division on the League Board of Directors and will appointment Peninsula Division members to the Leagues’ eight (8) policy committees. She will help develop and implement the League’s Strategic Priorities for 2009. In 2008 these priorities included: protect funding for vital community services; support green and sustainable cities; expand infrastructure investment; and enact honest and responsible eminent domain reform.

The League of California Cities is an association of California city officials who work together to enhance their knowledge and skills, exchange information, and combine resources so that they may influence policy decisions that affect cities.