NASHVILLE – J.H. Graham, III, Crossville Mayor Pro Tem, was elected to the board of directors of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) during the League’s recent annual conference held in Knoxville. Wallace Cartwright, mayor of Shelbyville was elected President.
Graham was elected as one of eight district directors to represent his section of the state. He was nominated and elected during a district caucus of TML members from the Crossville region.
Founded in 1940 and based in Nashville, TML is a nonprofit organization founded by cities and towns for mutual assistance and improvement. Representing 99 percent of Tennessee’s municipal citizens, the organization advocates for needed legislative action by the General Assembly, represents municipal interests before state departments and agencies and, working through the National League of Cities in Washington, seeks to influence federal legislation and policies affecting municipal governments.
As a member of the TML board of directors, Graham will propose and help determine legislation municipalities need passed into law and will establish policy priorities for the League.
Other board elections include three vice presidents: Jill Holland, mayor of McKenzie, Mike Werner, mayor of Gatlinburg; and Ken Moore, mayor of Franklin. TML vice presidents are traditionally in line to serve as president.
The TML board also includes past TML presidents, mayors of Tennessee’s largest cities, eight district directors, and eight at-large directors.
The eight district directors, representing their section of the state, were nominated and elected during district caucuses. They are: District 1: Todd Smith, Greeneville city manager; District 2: Tony Cox, Morristown city administrator; District 3: Bill Graham, Dayton councilmember; District 4: J.H. Graham, Crossville mayor pro tem; District 5: Richard Driver, Lafayette mayor; District 6: John Hickman, Waynesboro city manager; District 7: Mike French, Somerville alderman; and District 8: Edmund Ford, Jr., Memphis councilman.
Founded in 1940 and based in Nashville, the Tennessee Municipal League is a voluntary, cooperative organization established by the cities and towns of the state for mutual assistance and improvements. The League’s primary function is to advocate on behalf of city governments. TML works with the Tennessee General Assembly promoting legislation helpful to cities and opposing legislation harmful to cities.
