For comprehensive information on the ICMA regional nominations and election process, members should consult the ICMA Executive Board Nomination 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: Southern, Eastern, Central, Great Plains and Western.
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 Voting Members. Article VIII, Section 1, of the ICMA Constitution defines Voting members as follows:
a. Voting 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?
Voting members serving full-time in an appointed position to a local government are eligible to run. Voting 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.*
In addition to these membership requirements, candidates must also meet the applicable regional eligibility requirements established in the Regional Nominating Agreements, including the annual rotation of eligible states or countries. For complete eligibility information, see the Eligibility section of the ICMA Executive Board Nominations and Election page. 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.
- 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. Board members have a notable amount of travel as well as remote meetings, and also attend quarterly Executive Board meetings in person. For additional information on meeting schedules, travel expectations and other responsibilities, 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 candidates who can best represent the local government management profession on the ICMA Executive Board. Every year, each Regional Nominating Committee interviews eligible candidates and selects the region's endorsed nominee for placement on the ICMA annual election ballot. For additional information about the role and responsibilities of Regional Nominating Committees, see the Regional Nominating Committees section of the ICMA Executive Board Nominations and Election page.
Who serves on a Regional Nominating Committee?
Five U.S. Regions: The Regional Nominating Committees in the 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 by the Executive Board 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. 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, the 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 regional vice presidents for the International region may 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. For additional information about the composition of the International Regional Nominating Committee, contact ICMA staff at icmanominations@icma.org.
The composition and responsibilities of each Regional Nominating Committee are established by the applicable Regional Nominating Agreement. Prospective candidates are encouraged to review their region's agreement for additional information.
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 the process for identifying and selecting the region's preferred candidates to serve as the region's Regional Vice President, including regional geographical protocols for the rotation of nominees between states or countries. 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 equitable opportunities within each region for all states or countries to be represented over time, 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 and annual rotation of eligible states. The ICMA Executive Board sets the process for the International Region. Prospective candidates should review the Regional Nominating Agreement for their region to understand the annual rotation of eligible states or countries and any additional regional requirements.
Why were the regional boundaries updated?
The Executive Board approved updates to the regional boundaries in 2025 (effective October 2026) to create a more equitable distribution of ICMA members across the five U.S. regions, something that hadn’t been done since 1973. While the regions differ somewhat in size and geography, the revised boundaries better balance regional ICMA membership and support more consistent representation across the Executive Board.
What happens if I leave my position in local government during my board service?
If the president, president-elect, or a regional vice president during their first year of office accepts a full-time job outside of local government, their service on the Executive Board will terminate upon commencement of the new position. If a member takes another position in local government, they may retain their board position in some circumstances. If the new job is within the ICMA region in which they were elected, there is no impact on board service. If the new position is in another ICMA region from the one the board member was elected, they may only retain their board position if they start their job following their first year of their service. If the board member becomes a Member in Transition during their service, they may retain their position on the board unless any of the other provisions noted above apply. Finally, if the board member retires from local government during their board service, they may retain their position if the retirement occurs after their first year of service. See Article IV. ICMA Constitution.
Can I run for regional vice president in a region where I do not work?
No. Candidates for regional vice president can only run for a position in the ICMA region in which they work at the time of the election. See the applicable 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 both 5 years of ICMA membership and 5 years of service to a local government milestones by the date of filing an application with ICMA to be eligible for consideration. Affiliate members must also satisfy the applicable regional eligibility requirements established in their region's Regional Nominating Agreement. Prospective candidates should review the agreement for their region to determine any additional eligibility requirements.
I thought each U.S. region had a Regional Vice President seat reserved for an Assistant or Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. What changed?
In 2025, the ICMA membership approved a constitutional amendment recommended by the Executive Board that eliminated the position-type requirement for one Regional Vice President seat in each region. As a result, all Regional Vice President positions are now open to eligible Full Members, whether they serve as a Chief Administrative Officer or an Assistant or Deputy Chief Administrative Officer. This change provides greater flexibility for regions while continuing to encourage participation and leadership opportunities for both managers and assistant or deputy managers.
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 or country association president, affiliate organization leadership, current or former regional vice presidents, or regional director, as applicable. For U.S. regions: Use the State Leadership / Liaison Directory. For International region contact ICMA staff at icmanominations@icma.org.
What advice do former Executive Board members have for discussing Board service with their governing body?
"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 the 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.
All items must be submitted via the application portal. Questions about the application process can be emailed to icmanominations@icma.org. Late submissions will not be accepted. Materials will be shared with the appropriate Regional Nominating Committee prior to interviews.
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. 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. Members of Regional Nominating Committees 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.
Some state, country, or affiliate organizations may have separate endorsement processes. Candidates should consult the applicable organization for any additional requirements.
Why are petitions required as part of my application for Executive Board service?
Beginning in 2026, petitions are a required component of every application for Executive Board service. They demonstrate that a candidate has obtained the required number of signatures from eligible ICMA Voting Members and preserve the candidate's opportunity to appear independently on the annual election ballot if they are not selected as the region's endorsed nominee.
Can a current ICMA Executive Board member sign my petition or provide a letter of support or endorsement?
No. Sitting ICMA Executive Board members cannot sign petitions or provide any letters of support or endorsement. In addition, members of Regional Nominating Committees and ICMA committees and task forces are also asked not to endorse candidates or submit personal letters of support for candidates for the Executive Board. State, country or affiliate organizations may have separate endorsement processes or additional requirements. Candidates should consult the applicable organization for more information.
May I submit more than one letter of support or endorsement?
Candidates may submit multiple letters of support or endorsement as part of their application; however, applicants are encouraged to focus on quality rather than quantity. Regional Nominating Committees are interested in thoughtful letters that speak to the candidate's leadership, experience, and potential contributions to the Executive Board.
Can more than one person from the same state apply for an open Regional Vice President position?
Yes. Multiple eligible candidates from the same state or country may apply and interview for an open Regional Vice President position, provided they satisfy the applicable membership and regional eligibility requirements. Each Regional Nominating Committee selects only one endorsed nominee for placement on the annual election ballot. Candidates who are not selected as the endorsed nominee may choose to appear independently on the annual election ballot in accordance with ICMA's election procedures.
Some state or country associations may have their own processes or additional requirements related to endorsements or expressions of support for prospective candidates. Those processes are independent of ICMA's Executive Board nominations and election process, and candidates should consult the applicable association for more information.
Can my name still appear on the election ballot if I am not selected as my region's endorsed nominee?
Yes. All candidates are required to submit a petition with the required number of eligible ICMA Voting Member signatures as part of their application materials. If a candidate is not selected as the region's endorsed nominee by the Regional Nominating Committee, ICMA staff will contact the candidate to determine whether they wish to appear independently on the annual election ballot.
Are the petitions included in the materials provided to Regional Nominating Committee members?
No. Petitions are verified by ICMA staff to confirm that they contain the required number of signatures from eligible ICMA Voting Members. They are not shared with or reviewed by the Regional Nominating Committee. This helps ensure that the committee's evaluation is based on the candidate's qualifications and application materials.
If I am not selected as my region's endorsed nominee, when must I decide whether to appear independently on the annual election ballot?
ICMA staff will contact candidates after the Regional Nominating Committee has completed its interviews and selected the region's endorsed nominee. Candidates who are not selected will be asked whether they wish to appear independently on the annual election ballot.
Who can sign my petition?
A petition must be signed by at least 15 eligible ICMA Voting Members and submitted by the established annual deadline. Candidates are not limited to obtaining signatures within their own state or region. Signatures must include the signer's printed or typed name and position title to allow ICMA staff to verify eligibility. Applicants are encouraged to obtain more than the required 15 signatures in the event that one or more signatures cannot be verified as eligible ICMA Voting Members during the verification process. Electronic signatures are accepted. Questions regarding appropriate signature collection methods can be directed to icmanominations@icma.org.
Eligible Voting Members include:
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.See "How can I check to see if someone is an ICMA member?" below for assistance verifying voting membership eligibility.
How can I verify whether someone is an eligible Voting Member?
Use the Who's Who in Local Government database to search for ICMA members. ICMA Members will display the blue "ICMA Member" badge. Any individual with a CAO or ACAO title is a voting member and eligible to sign petitions. Those with other titles may or may not be full members. If you have questions about an individual's voting membership eligibility, or about your own membership status, please contact ICMA staff at membership@icma.org. Candidates are strongly encouraged to obtain more than the required number of signatures on their petitions to mitigate against unknown membership issues of petition signers.
If I choose to appear independently on the annual election ballot, will it be noted?
Yes. The online election ballot will identify the Regional Nominating Committee's endorsed nominee for the region. Candidates not selected by the committee as the region's nominee and who are appearing independently on the ballot will also have the opportunity to submit a statement of no more than 250 words describing their interest in serving on the Executive Board and what they would bring to the role. Since biographical information is already provided, independent candidates are encouraged to focus on their qualifications, perspective, and goals for Board service. Statements should not mention other candidates or current or former ICMA members. ICMA staff may edit statements 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.
