Burnsville's Kautz to lead U.S. mayors

Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz long has had big plans for the city's future. She now has a big stage from which to promote those plans.

Kautz, mayor since 1994, will be inaugurated today as the 68th president of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) at a news conference at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.

Having been the organization's vice president since June, Kautz will serve out the remaining six months of former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' term before beginning her own one-year term. Nickels was defeated in his reelection bid in November.

She'll be the first Minnesota mayor to hold the position, and the first from a suburb in any state.

"I am honored and humbled by this opportunity," Kautz said. "I'm ready to do the work we need to do for the region and the nation. While I will do my best to serve on the national level, Burnsville will always come first."

The USCM is a nonpartisan organization with 1,139 members who represent U.S. cities with populations of 30,000 or more. On its website (www.usmayors.org) the USCM presents itself as "the Voice of America's Mayors in Washington, DC."

Tom Cochran, the CEO and Executive Director of the USCM, calls the presidency "a very powerful position," one that will help shape the organization's goals. Cochran said he has no doubt Kautz will be up to the challenge.

Kautz made trips to Belgium, Sweden and Denmark at the end of 2009 relating to the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change, and Cochran was impressed with Kautz's understanding of the issue.

Focus on domestic issues

Kautz's focus, however, will be on domestic issues. "I will speak as a strong voice for the region," she said. "I also will make sure Burnsville has a significant voice. When it comes to policies, I will draw on my Burnsville experience when looking to examples."

Among her first duties as president will be presiding over the USCM's winter meetings in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20-22. The mayors will meet with members of President Obama's Cabinet and Congress to discuss transportation, jobs and energy.

Kautz's vision for development along the Minnesota River could gain some meaningful traction under her presidency. There will be countless opportunities for her to interact with corporate leaders.

Asked which mayors around the country she was particularly close to, Kautz listed, among others, Richard M. Daley of Chicago, Oscar Goodman of Las Vegas, Doug Palmer of Trenton, N.J., and James Schmitt of Green Bay, Wis. Kautz said she will call on any number of her fellow mayors to seek their counsel.

"They all bring different skills sets," Kautz said.

Cochran said Daley has been a strong Kautz supporter for a long time. "She has respect throughout our organization," he said. "She's earned this position."