Ellen Smith Appointed to the National League of Cities Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee


February 14, 2017

Ellen Smith, Oak Ridge City Council member, has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2017 Energy, Environment and Natural Resources (EENR) federal advocacy committee. This committee has the lead responsibility for developing NLC’s federal policy positions on issues involving air quality, water quality, energy policy, national wetlands policy, noise control and solid and hazardous waste management. The appointment was announced by NLC President Matt Zone, council member, Cleveland.

Oak Ridge's heritage of research and development in energy technology, particularly nuclear energy, give members of Oak Ridge city government special knowledge and perspectives to share in discussion with city leaders from around the country. The late Jerry Kuhaida, former Oak Ridge mayor, and former Council member David Mosby both served on this National League of Cities committee in years past. 

“With degrees in geology and water resources management and a long career as an environmental scientist on the research staff of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Ms. Smith's professional background is closely aligned with the scope of the committee's activities,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. “Like other communities, the City of Oak Ridge often encounters unique technical challenges and mandates related to community environmental protection. Local representation on this committee by Ms. Smith will help city officials at a national level garner attention to these concerns and encourage national resources for assistance.”

As a member of the committee, Smith will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocate on behalf of America’s cities and towns before Congress, with the new administration and at home.

The leadership of this year’s committee consists of Chair Salvatore Panto, Jr., mayor, Easton, Pennsylvania, and Vice Chairs Hattie Portis-Jones, council member, Fairburn, Georgia, and Cynthia Pratt, deputy mayor, Lacey, Washington.

For more information on NLC’s other committees and councils, visit their Federal Advocacy Committees page.