On a day when Oklahoma City celebrated its first major league professional sports championship with the Thunder's win, Mayor David Holt had his own victory to savor. Earlier on June 22, he was sworn in as the 83rd President of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) in Tampa, Florida, as reported by the City of Oklahoma's official website. In this role, he will advocate for the country's cities and their leaders both nationally, and internationally over the coming year.
Holt, a member of the Osage Nation, is making history as allegedly the first Native American to serve in this capacity. His duties are substantial, he’ll be tasked with representing the nation's mayors, overseeing the governance of the USCM, and rallying his peers around policy and advocacy. In September, he is expected to host a leadership meeting in Oklahoma City, and in June, preside over the USCM Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California. "There is no more important place in human existence than the city, and there is no higher office than the Mayor," Holt remarked in a statement obtained by the City of Oklahoma's official news website.
The USCM, an official nonpartisan organization, represents cities with populations of 30,000 or more, encompassing over 1,400 cities across the United States. Each of these cities is represented by its mayor. Tom Cochran, the CEO and Executive Director of USCM, praised Holt's leadership, emphasizing his commitment to uniting diverse voices to enhance urban communities. "This Conference is fortunate to lean on the leadership of Mayor Holt in this time of opportunity and need for America’s cities,” said Cochran as per the Oklahoma City website.
Holt has climbed the ranks within the USCM, having formerly served as Vice President, Second Vice President, Trustee, and Advisory Board Member among numerous committee positions. In 2021, alongside then-President and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, he co-chaired national efforts encouraging the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Holt, who is also the Dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law, succeeds Columbus, OH Mayor Andy Ginther with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria as Vice President and Lincoln, NE Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird stepping in as Second Vice President. With his ascension, Oklahoma City joins a select group of cities to have produced more than one USCM President, with the earlier tenure of former Mayor Mick Cornett in 2016-2017. "I am deeply grateful to my fellow mayors for the trust they have placed in me. This is also a wonderful platform for Oklahoma City, and I’m grateful to have this opportunity to represent our city," Holt shared with the City of Oklahoma news outlet.
Elected Mayor of Oklahoma City in 2018 with a resounding 78.5 percent of the vote, Holt was re-elected in 2022 by a large margin, securing the second-most votes in the city's mayoral history. His tenure at the helm of the USCM continues a tradition of influential mayors taking on the presidency, joining the ranks of high-profile predecessors such as Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans, and Richard M. Daley of Chicago.
