Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh Receives Certified Elected Municipal Official Designation

The designation was created by the League as a way to recognize elected officials who commit to continuing their professional development while in office.

The recognition program allows attendees to build towards the CEMO designation while receiving meaningful, informative, and useful information on topics that expand the elected official's knowledge and capabilities. Participation in the program is 100 percent voluntary.

In addition to Cavanagh, Dubuque City Councilmember Laura Roussel has also achieved the CEMO designation.

"Those achieving the CEMO designation spend many hours, often on weekends, attending workshops and conferences on the finer points of municipal government," said Alan Kemp, Executive Director of the Iowa League of Cities. "This is a significant commitment to local government and I commend these individuals for their dedication and motivation to become more effective municipal officials."

Cavanagh is currently in his first term as Dubuque's mayor. He was elected in November of 2021 and assumed the post the following January. He previously served as the Fourth Ward representative on the Dubuque City Council. Prior to his time on the council, he was a member of the City's housing commission, and has been a member of the board of directors of both the Dubuque County Food Policy Council and the Fountain of Youth program. He also helped co-found Resources Unite.

The CEMO designations were awarded at the Iowa League of Cities Annual Conference & Exhibit in Sioux City on September 20.