(Red Oak, Iowa) – Red Oak Mayor Shawnna Silvius has been awarded the Certified Elected Municipal Official (CEMO) designation in 2023. The program was established by the Iowa League of Cities as a way to recognize elected officials who commit to continuing their professional development while in office. The recognition program allows attendees to build towards the CEMO designation while receiving meaningful, informative and useful information on topics that expand the elected official’s knowledge and capabilities. Participation in the program is fully voluntary.

Red Oak Mayor Shawna Silvius

2023 Certified Elected Municipal Officials
Grace Garrett | Mayor, Atlantic
Elaine Otte | Council Member, Atlantic
Rylie Pflughaupt | Council Member, Vinton
Shawnna Silvius | Mayor, Red Oak
H. Lee Sisco | Council Member, Atlantic

“Those achieving the CEMO designation spend many hours, often on weekends and evenings, attending workshops and conferences on a wide variety of municipal government topics,” said Alan Kemp, Executive Director of the Iowa League of Cities. “This is a significant commitment to local government and I commend these individuals for their dedication to become more effective municipal officials.” The CEMO designations were presented at the Iowa League of Cities Annual Conference & Exhibit in Cedar Rapids on September 22.

Additionally, Mayor Silvius was elected to the Iowa League of Cities Executive Board at its Annual Business Meeting on September 20, also held in conjunction with the Annual Conference & Exhibit. The League’s Executive Board is responsible for adopting policies to provide direction to the League, adopting the annual operating budget, establishing membership fees and providing direction to the organization.

The Board consists of 14 board director positions and five officer positions: president, president‐elect and three past presidents. All of these positions must be filled by current city officials who represent cities of various populations and geographic locations. Mayor Silvius was also appointed to the Iowa Mayor’s Association Executive Committee. She is one of 7 mayors elected to this committee in which she represents 17 Southwest Iowa communities.