Mayor ‘excited’ about opportunity to meet president
Cape Coral Mayor Marni Sawicki will be attending the winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors next week in Washington, D.C., but Monday learned that trip will include a visit with President Barack Obama at the White House.
“I’m excited about that meeting,” said Sawicki. “I think it is so cool, it’s such a great opportunity.”
Sawicki and the other 50 or so mayors at the meeting are invited to meet with cabinet members and the President in the White House on Jan. 23 during the conference, which runs Jan. 22-24.
The conference includes five potential policy discussion topics conducted by senior administration officials and the cabinet members followed by remarks from Obama and a reception.
“I’m excited about representing the City of Cape Coral and having a chance to participate in discussions with federal officials. I didn’t sign up the the health care topic because I can’t do anything about that at this level, but I did sign up for some others, like climate change and technology,” she said.
Other topics for discussion by the mayors are education and workforce development, and boosting trade and American exports.
Last month Sawicki attended a three-day conference for newly elected mayors at Harvard University’s Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government. That trip, paid for by Harvard University, included seminars on public safety, technology, government finance and disaster management. It offered the opportunity for new city leaders to engage and learn how to transfer from campaigning to functioning in office.