Chandler Councilmembers Appointed to Key National League of Cities Committees

CHANDLER, Ariz. — Two Chandler City Council members have earned prominent national roles with the National League of Cities (NLC), reinforcing the city's voice in federal advocacy and local leadership networks.

Councilmember Christine Ellis has been reappointed to three NLC committees for one-year terms: the Human Development Committee, the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO), and Women in Municipal Government (WIMG). In these positions, she will help shape the NLC's federal advocacy priorities, share best practices among peers, and network with local leaders nationwide.

The Human Development Committee has recently prioritized issues such as social services, addressing the opioid epidemic, and promoting workforce investment strategies—including career and technical education—to bolster local economies. WIMG focuses on advancing economic opportunities for women in the workforce while championing health, wellness, and quality-of-life initiatives that strengthen communities. NBC-LEO advocates for equitable policies benefiting Black communities and supports leadership development and peer-learning programs through collaborations with the private sector, higher education, and civic organizations.

NLC committee members play a vital role in influencing national policy by helping Washington, D.C., policymakers better understand the challenges and needs of local communities.

Ellis, who joined the Chandler City Council in January 2021, also serves as Vice Chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Community Initiatives Coordinating Committee and on the Arizona Board of Nursing. She is a member of the Executive Board of the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network, where she was recently appointed Vice Chair.

Separately, Councilmember OD Harris has been appointed to serve one-year terms on three additional NLC committees: the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, the Hispanic Elected Local Officials (HELO), and the Large Cities Council. Earlier this year, he was reappointed to the Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee, where he contributes to federal advocacy and policy direction in that area.

NBC-LEO and HELO emphasize sharing best practices and pushing for policies that support Black and Latino communities, including expanded educational access, leadership development, peer-learning opportunities, and minority business enterprise programs. The Large Cities Council brings together officials from cities with populations of 200,000 or more to exchange ideas and strategies for tackling the distinct challenges faced by larger urban areas.

Harris, who also began his council service in January 2021, represents Chandler as the NLC liaison to the Institute for Building Technology and Safety Board of Directors and serves on the Valley Metro Regional Public Transit Authority Board of Directors.

Both council members' appointments highlight Chandler's growing influence in national discussions on community development, equity, infrastructure, and economic opportunity.