Libertyville Mayor Donna Johnson was inaugurated as the 2025-2026 Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC) President on Wednesday, June 11.
Johnson is the organization’s 67th President and second from the Village of Libertyville. Buffalo Grove Village President Eric Smith was installed as Vice-President, with Mount Prospect Mayor Paul Hoefert and Barrington Village Manager Scott Anderson installed as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Their terms run through June, 2026.
The inauguration took place at the NWMC’s Annual Gala at the Chicago Marriott Northwest in Hoffman Estates. One hundred and eighty-seven members and guests celebrated the accomplishments of outgoing NWMC President and Hanover Park Mayor Rod Craig as well as the inauguration of President Johnson.
Mayor Craig thanked the Conference leadership team, membership and staff for their collective achievements over the past year, including leading the Pension Fairness for Illinois Communities Coalition to prevent erosion of Tier 2 public safety pension systems, working with the Invest in Communities Coalition to protect local government revenues and engaging in discussions on the future of the region’s public transit system.
In her inaugural remarks to the membership, President Johnson thanked Mayor Craig for his leadership over the past year and congratulated the new leadership team. She called on the membership and staff to increase their commitment to the organization and strengthen stakeholder partnerships for the betterment of the region. She said, “we recognize that we can accomplish so much more in partnership and collaboration with others than we can individually. This organization has thrived due to the innovation and commitment of the membership and staff to deliver solutions for our members. We will need your voice and your participation in our committees and activities to achieve that success.”
She also outlined a number of initiatives for the year, including creating a new strategic plan with a focus on “fortifying our programmatic and financial future”, welcoming and engaging newly elected officials to “strengthen our collective voice” and leading and collaborating with established regional coalitions to advocate for local government interests.
The Northwest Municipal Conference is a membership-supported association of 43 municipalities and 1 township representing a population of over 1.2 million Illinois residents. Established in 1958, the Conference serves to strengthen local government and enhance intergovernmental cooperation in the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago.
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