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Michelle and Steve Kaufusi attend the Utah League of Cities and Towns convention in Salt Lake City on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.

Courtesy Provo City

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Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi speaks at the Utah League of Cities and Towns convention, where she was named president of the organization. The convention was held Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, in Salt Lake City.

Courtesy Provo City

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She was a child of Provo and grew up learning to love her hometown, attended high school and Brigham Young University, served on the Provo City School District Board of Education and eventually became the city’s first woman mayor. Now, Mayor Michelle Kaufusi is adding a new role to her long list of service.

On Friday, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, or ULCT, announced Kaufusi as its next president during its 2023 Annual Convention in Salt Lake City.

“Mayor Kaufusi has developed strong, collaborative relationships with local, state and federal elected officials. Her leadership theme of ‘Speak Up’ encourages much-needed conversations and cooperation between Utah’s elected officials at all levels and our collective constituents,” said Cameron Diehl, ULCT executive director.

Kaufusi served as the 2022-23 ULCT Legislative Policy Committee chair, bringing direct experience with legislators to her new role as ULCT president.

“Speaking up to legislators about potential legislation is one of the more effective ways to not only impact policy but improve it. Many legislators lack municipal experience and appreciate understanding how cities work,” Kaufusi said. “And because each city is unique, it’s important for every city to share their individual story.”

Kaufusi added, “The ULCT represents 245 municipalities, but it is simply a list of cities unless we band together to speak up with a strong, unified voice. When cities become actively engaged in state and federal policy, we are better serving our citizens.”

Kaufusi introduced her “Speak Up” theme to the convention, with each attendee receiving a megaphone to remind them of the importance of establishing and maintaining meaningful relationships with legislators.

“During the 2023 legislative session, there were 240 bills with direct local impact. The question asked of attending cities was, ‘How did you engage in the policy affecting your citizens?’ Regardless of the answer, our goal this year is to do better,” Kaufusi said.

Honored as Utah’s 2019 Informed Decision Maker of the Year and the 2022 Utah Valley Chamber Champion, Kaufusi also serves in appointed regional leadership positions as the chair of the Utah County Metropolitan Planning Organization and MPO Finance Committee; president of the Utah League of Cities and Towns; chair of the Utah Municipal Power Agency; vice chair of the Utah County Council of Governments; vice chair of the newly established Utah Lake Authority; and is a newly appointed board member to the Utah Water Quality Board.

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