For comprehensive information on the ICMA regional nominations and election process, members should consult the ICMA Executive Board Regional Nominations Process webpage.
This FAQ page is only a compilation of answers to questions that ICMA receives. Use the drop-down feature below to view FAQs.
"ICMA Executive Board service is a commitment and it’s not for show. You are expected to show up and work, stay engaged, and contribute. I have described it as similar to taking on a part-time job. There is no doubt that any candidate should consider whether or not the timing is right for them, because what board members get out of the experience is a result of what they put into it. Of course, the rewards are absolutely worth it -- in my view, anything worth doing is worth working for, and that is certainly true of board service." - Karen Pinkos, former ICMA President and former West Coast Regional Vice President
- General Questions on the Regional Nominations and Annual Election Process
What positions are elected during the annual nominations and election process?
Each year, each region has one regional vice president position become available. The 21-member board consists of a president, a president-elect, a past president, and 18 regional vice presidents. There are six regions and each region is represented by three regional vice presidents. All regional vice presidents serve three-year terms on the executive board.
What are ICMA's regions?
There are six regions. One International region and five U.S regions: Southeast, Northeast, Midwest, Mountain Plains, and the West Coast.
Who can vote in the annual election?
The privilege and responsibility of voting for a regional vice president on the annual election ballot is limited to Corporate members. Article VIII. Section 1. of the ICMA Constitution (amended by the membership in February 2020) defines Corporate members:
a. Corporate Members are:
i. Full Members (including Life Members)
ii. Affiliate Members, currently serving in an appointed position in local government, who have a minimum of five years of service to a local government and five years of membership in ICMA.Who is eligible to run for a vacant ICMA regional vice president seat?
Corporate members serving full-time in an appointed position to a local government are eligible to run. Corporate members include:
i. Full members, i.e., CAOs or assistant/deputy CAOs
ii.. Affiliate members who have a minimum of five years of service to a local government and five years of membership in ICMA, i.e., entry to mid-level management or department heads.*
Members who want to be considered for nomination are also subject to the rotation system and selection criteria in the Geographical Protocols outlined in the Regional Nominating Agreements for each election year. The rotation of eligible states/countries and position-types change each year and requirements can differ by region. Interested members should review the Geographical Protocols contained in their region's Regional Nominating Agreement. For questions, contact your regional director if residing in the U.S., or email icmanominations@icma.org if residing internationally.
*Affiliate members meeting the eligibility criteria stated above can only run for a position in their region’s designated "non-CAO" year. 2024-2025 is the designated "non-CAO" year for the Midwest region only.
- Questions from Prospective Candidates
What are the responsibilities, commitments, and expectations of serving on the ICMA Executive Board?
The ICMA Executive Board is a working board that requires active participation and a significant commitment of time and effort from each member throughout the three-year term. Board members make themselves accessible to the executive director and the ICMA leadership team. They maintain a considerable amount of communication with the regional directors, certain ICMA programmatic staff, and the membership. Board members are provided with a sizable amount of reading materials in advance of meetings and come prepared to engage in discussion, offer guidance, or make decisions. Travel continues to be re-evaluated due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Historically, Board members have a significant amount of travel and attend quarterly meetings in person. View the Expectations of Board Service.
What is a Regional Nominating Committee and what does it do?
The six Regional Nominating Committees (one per region) are responsible for interviewing qualified individuals who can best represent the local government management profession on the ICMA Executive Board. Every year, each Regional Nominating Committee will interview and select a single nominee to appear as the region's recommended candidate on the ICMA annual election ballot. Corporate members then have the opportunity to vote for regional vice presidents on the annual election ballot.
Who serves on a Regional Nominating Committee?
Five U.S. Regions: The Regional Nominating Committees in the five U.S. regions are composed of a representative of each state association that has an affiliation agreement with ICMA. These state association presidents will serve or appoint an eligible ICMA member to serve on their region's nominating committee. CivicPRIDE, the International Network of Asian Public Administrators (I-NAPA), the Local Government Hispanic Network (LGHN), the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA), and the National Association of County Administrators (NACA) are affiliate organizations that are asked to identify a representative for each of the five U.S. committees, as well as ICMA's SheLeadsGov member committee. Regional Nominating Committee appointees must be ICMA members in good standing residing in the same region as the Regional Nominating Committee to which they are appointed and should be working in service to a local government. Use the State Leadership / Liaison Directory. The ICMA President (or designee) is also a member of each Regional Nominating Committee meaning ICMA only has one vote per region in the regional nominations process.
International Region: The Regional Nominating Committee for the International region is composed of the ICMA President (or designee), the senior International Vice President (who may also serve as the ICMA President’s designee), 2-3 former ICMA international board members, chair and vice chair of the International Committee, 1-2 representatives from affiliated countries that have eligible members and, preferably, who are not represented by the current regional vice presidents, and a chair that should be selected from a country with no current candidates. The two remaining current vice presidents for the International region will attend and observe the interview process for each candidate, but do not vote. Regional Nominating Committee appointees must be ICMA members in good standing and all members will be international with the exception of the chair or vice-chair of the International Committee, one of whom has been an American. Contact icmanominations@icma.org for questions.
What role does geography play in the Regional Nominating Committees' selection of nominees?
Geography plays a significant role in the nominations process. The Regional Nominating Agreements for each of the six regions establish a process for selecting candidates to be nominated to serve as the region's ICMA Vice President and regional geographical protocols (customized by region) for the rotation of nominees between states or countries and position types. The processes outlined in these agreements are intended to reflect the mutual commitment between ICMA and the state or country associations to identify motivated and qualified members to serve on the ICMA Executive Board. The agreements also work to ensure equal opportunity within each region for all states or countries to be represented, with the goal of achieving a balanced executive board that represents the local government management profession and those served by it. Within the U.S., the leadership of the state associations with affiliate agreements with ICMA in each region are responsible for co-developing and adhering to Regional Nominating Agreements, which outline the selection process requirements for each of the regions. The ICMA Executive Board sets the process for the International Region.
I plan to depart local government next year, can I still serve on the board?
If the president, president-elect, or a vice president during his or her first year in office, accepts a full-time job that is not with a local government, his or her status as an officer will terminate on the commencement of the new job. See Article IV. ICMA Constitution.
Can I run for regional vice president in a region where I do not work?
No. Regional vice presidents can only run for a position in the ICMA geographical region in which they work at the time of the election. See the Regional Nominating Agreements.
Does an Affiliate member need to have 5 years as an ICMA member and 5 years of service to a local government in order to apply or be nominated to serve on the board?
Yes. An Affiliate member currently serving in local government must have met the 5 years of ICMA membership and 5 years of service to a local government milestones by the date of filing their application with ICMA in order to be eligible to compete in the process.
IMPORTANT: *Affiliate members meeting the eligibility criteria stated above can only run for a position in their region’s designated "non-CAO" year. 2024-2025 is the designated "non-CAO" year for the Midwest region only. Check your region's Regional Nominating Agreement to verify the rotation of position-types and/or states. As an example, Affiliate members typically hold department/division head positions.
I'm interested in learning more. Who can I talk to?
ICMA strongly encourages individuals who are interested in pursuing this rewarding and important leadership opportunity to reach out to their state/country association president or affiliate organization president, current or former regional vice presidents, and/or regional director, as applicable. For U.S. regions: Use the State Leadership / Liaison Directory. For International region: Contact icmanominations@icma.org.
How did former board members approach their council /elected officials to get their buy-in?
"I started with the mayor and explained why ICMA was important and the work they do in supporting professional managers around the world. I emphasized the learning opportunities from being exposed to best practices for problem-solving all around the world and how that would benefit the city. It was an easy conversation. And following my discussion with the mayor and the city council, it was clear that they see the regional benefits, local benefits and the opportunities for solidifying our stake in support of the council-manager form of government." - Troy Brown, former ICMA President and former West Coast Regional Vice President. "My former boss was very supportive of my serving on the board. I transitioned to my first city manager role in my first year. My council was very supportive and I built the opportunity and expectation in my employment contract." - Heather Geyer, former Mountain Plains Regional Vice President
- Questions on Submission Materials
What is the deadline to submit my materials in order to be considered by a Regional Nominating Committee?
Each year in June, the Executive Board approves a new general schedule for the regional nominations and election process for the coming election year. View this year's general schedule for the application deadline and other key dates.
IMPORTANT: All items must be emailed in a single PDF packet/attachment to ICMA via icmanominations@icma.org. Late submissions will not be accepted. Materials will be shared with the appropriate Regional Nominating Committee prior to interviews.
Can I self-nominate in order to be considered by a Regional Nominating Committee?
Yes. Self-nomination is one avenue that eligible members can take to be considered by the Regional Nominating Committee. In order to interview before a Regional Nominating Committee for nomination, prospective candidates must submit the required materials by the established annual deadline.
How and from whom should I solicit letters of support or endorsements for my candidacy?
Individuals are not required to solicit letters of support or endorsements to present as a candidate, however, they are recommended. Thoughtful letters of support from members or letters of endorsement from state, country or affiliate associations that can aid the Regional Nominating Committee in understanding your qualities, achievements, and potential contributions to the board are optional, but recommended. Sitting ICMA Board members may not provide any letters of support or endorsement. Regional Nominating Committee members, and ICMA committees and task forces, are asked not to endorse candidates or submit personal letters of support for candidates for the Board. See Submission Materials required by ICMA. Note: Some state or country associations or affiliate organization have a separate endorsement process that requires a petition, however, ICMA does not require a petition.
Can a current ICMA Executive Board member sign a petition or provide letters of support or endorsement?
No, sitting ICMA Executive Board members cannot sign petitions or provide any letters of support or endorsement. In addition, Regional Nominating Committee members, and ICMA committees and task forces, are asked not to endorse candidates or submit personal letters of support for candidates for the Board. Note: Some state or country associations or affiliate organization have a separate endorsement process that requires a petition, however, ICMA does not require a petition.
Can my name still appear on the election ballot if I am not selected for nomination by my region's Regional Nominating Committee?
There is a petition process. Petitions are not required in order to come before the Regional Nominating Committee as a candidate for their consideration. If a member meets the eligibility requirements and, after being interviewed by the appropriate Regional Nominating Committee, does not receive a Committee's nomination, the member has the option to appear independently on the election ballot only if they submitted a petition by the established annual deadline. The sole purpose of petitions is to allow a member the opportunity to qualify independently for nomination.
Are candidates required to submit a petition to ICMA?
No, petitions are not required in order to come before an ICMA Regional Nominating Committee as a candidate for their consideration. Note: Some state or country associations or affiliate organization have a separate endorsement process that requires a petition, however, ICMA does not require a petition. See Submission Materials required by ICMA.
Are petitions included in materials provided to regional nominating committee members?
No, petitions are not included in the materials provided to committee members. Regional Nominating Committees do not review submitted petitions, but ICMA staff verify the necessary 15 ICMA Corporate member signatures and provide the committees with the names of those candidates eligible to appear on the ballot should they choose to exercise that option.
When and how is it announced to a regional nominating committee that a candidate has submitted a petition?
A regional nominating committee will be informed of the names of the candidate(s) that have submitted a petition with the necessary 15 ICMA Corporate member signatures by the established annual deadline after interviews, deliberation, and voting have concluded, i.e., after the committee has selected a nominee for the region.
If not selected by the regional nominating committee, when must a candidate decide if he or she wishes to appear on the election ballot by petition?
ICMA staff will follow up with candidates after the interviews to 1) inform them of the committee’s selection, and 2) ascertain if a candidate(s) not selected who submitted the petition with the necessary 15 ICMA Corporate member signatures by the established annual deadline wishes to exercise the option to appear independently on the election ballot or not.
Who can sign a petition?
If a candidate chooses to submit the optional petition, it must be signed by 15 Corporate ICMA members by the established annual deadline for the election year. Late submissions will not be accepted. Signatures on petitions must be accompanied by printed/typed full names and position titles for verification. ICMA’s Constitution defines Corporate members:
a. Corporate Members are:
i. Full Members (including Life Members)
ii. Affiliate Members, currently serving in an appointed position in local government, who have a minimum of five years of service to a local government and five years of membership in ICMA.Examples: A Full member is typically a manager, deputy/assistant or someone who previously served in that role and is now a Life member. An Affiliate member meeting both of the 5-year milestones noted above typically serves in a department/division head role, as examples.
How can I check to see if somebody is an ICMA member?
Use the Who's Who in Local Government database to search for ICMA members. Look for the blue "ICMA Member" badge. An individual with questions about his or her own membership status can contact ICMA staff at membership@icma.org.
Where can I find a petition if I want to submit one?
If a candidate would like to submit a petition by the established annual deadline (not required) with the required submission materials the template is available for download here.
If I choose to appear on the ballot by petition, will it be noted?
Yes, it will be clearly noted who the Regional Nominating Committee selected as the nominee for the region on the online election ballot and which candidates are petition candidates, i.e., not selected as the region's recommended nominee. Candidates not selected by the committee as the region's nominee and who submitted a petition the necessary 15 ICMA Corporate member signatures by the established annual deadline are offered the option of submitting statements of no more than 200 words for the online election ballot. Since biographical information is already provided, petition candidates are urged to focus their remarks on how their experience relates to their proposed service on the board, what they would bring to the board that is unique, and their plans if elected. The statement should not mention any current or former ICMA member or other nominees from the region. ICMA staff may edit for grammar, punctuation, spelling, or length.
Contact Us
Candidates: If you have questions about the nominations process in one of the five U.S. regions, contact your state association or affiliate organization president, or your regional director. Use the State Leadership / Liaison Directory. International candidates, contact ICMA staff at icmanominations@icma.org.
Regional Nominating Committee members: For the five U.S. regions, contact your regional director. Regional directors serve as the secretariats to the regional nominating committees. Use the State Leadership / Liaison Directory. For the International region, contact ICMA staff at icmanominations@icma.org.
For general inquiries about the nominations or election process, contact ICMA staff at icmanominations@icma.org.
For questions about membership status, contact ICMA staff at membership@icma.org.
