As President of the Broward League of Cities, I am greatly inspired by the famous quote of Margaret Chase Smith (1897-1995), the first woman to be elected to the U.S. House and Senate: “My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honor is to be earned, not bought.”

While the honor of holding public office is a most rewarding experience, the ability to initiate positive change and succeed in making a meaningful difference in the lives of others is an ongoing challenge. Unquestionably, the Broward League of Cities, throughout its 54 years of existence, has served as a valuable resource in assisting local municipal officials, public employees and the local business community with providing quality services to all Broward County residents.

The challenges faced by public officials in today’s world have become more complex than ever before. On a daily basis, elected officials and public employees must face the task of assisting citizens with economic recovery, promoting society’s wellbeing and continuing to educate the public on important issues. For this reason, education is my number one initiative for my tenure as president.

We must continue advocating for quality public education, knowing that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. In the coming year, the Broward League of Cities will continue to prioritize educating the next generation of government leaders through the continuation of our Student Ambassador program and sponsorship of the Scholarship for Government Studies. Supporting the educational endeavors of students who plan to seek a career in municipal government is aligned with the League’s philosophy that by working together on common goals, municipalities can be more successful in resolving the issues affecting the welfare of Broward County residents at the local, state and federal levels.

Recognizing that the quality of leadership found in any government can be significantly enhanced by effective education and training, the Broward League of Cities, will continue offering its membership workshops and sessions on leadership development. Such programs will focus not only on leadership techniques, but will also provide our members with a broader understanding of the critical issues confronting all governmental agencies on the municipal, county and state levels.

Our legislative advocacy plan will educate elected officials about topline priorities of the Broward League of Cities while continuing to promote “home rule” and stress the importance of respect for each individual city’s identity and uniqueness. We will prioritize the importance of earning and retaining the trust of our citizenry in the wake of recent loss of public trust in government on the local, state and national levels.

We face many challenges in the coming year, but as a united Broward League of Cities, we will continue to thrive, grow and prosper!

Debby Eisinger