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qA_ ►� ANNUAL CONFERENCE from page 1 The vote came at the closing general session of the League's 3 -1/2 day annual conference at the Sacramento Convention Center. It was fol- lowed by the swearing in of new members of the League's board of directors, including the new members of the board's Executive Committee. Ron Loveridge, Mayor of Riverside, ascends to the role of President of League, with former President and Oakland City Attorney John Russo moving to Immediate Past President. Pat Eklund, Mayor Pro Tem of Novato, becomes the First Vice President, and Alex Padilla, Council Member from Los Angeles and President of the L.A. City Coun- cil, becomes Second Vice President. The conference that concluded today was held under the banner "Saving Local Democracy." The ballot initiative is seen by California cities as essential to end the ongoing vulnerability of local services to funding take -aways by the state. Incoming President Loveridge acclaimed the membership's strong support for the ballot initia- tive, saying, "The votes cast by our delegates today constitutes an historic opportunity for both the League and the people of California to move forward, to protect local democracy and to perma- nently better their communities." Outgoing League President John Russo reflected, "The endorsement of this initiative has been three years in the making. As one of our conference speakers observed yesterday, we are now at the "tipping point," the time to make dra- matic change, and we are the people to tip the scales in favor of the people of California." 'It's exciting to see solid membership support for the ballot initiative" said First Vice President Pat Eklund, adding "But we know that now the real work begins." New Executive Committee member Alex Padilla echoed Eklund's sentiment, and beseeched the help of "every city official across the state to effectively deliver our message of protecting local democracy. League bylaws call for the newly elected officers to serve one -year terms. A native Califor- .............................. nian, League President Ron Loveridge was elected as Mayor of Riverside in 1994, having served on the City Council for 14 years. From 1965 -1994, Loveridge was a professor of polificel science at the University of California, Riverside. For highlights on this year's annual conference please visit the League's website (www.cacities.orq) to view the Wrap Up Newslet- ters prepared by CAPIO volunteers. Navigating The Legislative Process Deadlines, Procedures and Common Terms NEW: An overview of the budget process and special sessions Plus: • A description of the legislative process • Tips on writing an effective letter and testifying before a legislative committee • Suggestions on how to participate in the League legislative program • A glossary of commonly used legislative and budget terms • A legislative calendar listing key state budget dates for city officials This publication is available from the League for $5. There is a ten percent discount on orders of five or more. Questions? Contact League Publications at 916/658-8257. Or order online at: www.cacities.org /store Visit the League's Official Web Site-- www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS /PAGE 5