Brenda Blanco
Title: City Clerk
Municipality: City of New Bern
Position Interested In: City Clerk At-Large
Tell us why you would like to serve in a leadership position at the League. In particular, specify goals you would like to accomplish as an officer or board member and indicate how, if attained, they will help to achieve Vision 2030 – the League’s future vision of how cities and towns will operate in 2030.
The NCLM has been a reliable resource during my local government career. As a member of the Board for the last two years, I have advocated to municipalities within District 2 and fellow clerks about the benefits of membership. Some of the smaller towns have questioned whether they are "too small" to join. I've been pleased to share with them that the League has several programs tailored to assist the smaller municipalities. One of my goals is to see membership in the League increase, as I believe all municipalities want to achieve the 6 operating principles identified in Vision 2030.
Tell us about your experience as a municipal official. You may want to include information on your service on the municipal governing body, other related boards and special areas of interest.
I have been with the City of New Bern for 22 years, serving as its City Clerk for the last 10 years. I have earned the designations of Master Municipal Clerk and Certified Municipal Clerk from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks ("IIMC") and the designation of NC Certified Municipal Clerk from the UNC School of Government and NC Association of Municipal Clerks. I'm a member of both the IIMC and NCAMC and served four years as the NCAMC District 2 Director, on the Executive Board, Finance Committee, Program and Education Committee (chair), Legislative Committee, Scholarship Committee, and many other NCAMC committees. I was honored with the 2021 NC Clerk of the Year designation and selected as one of 220 clerks named to the 2021 and 2023 Municipal Clerks Honor Roll out of roughly 35,933 clerks in the US.
Tell us about your educational background, professional experience, and/or community or civic activities.
Prior to joining the City of New Bern, I was a litigation paralegal for 15 years. I'm a member and volunteer with the New Bern Historical Society and serve on the LGFCU Advisory Council. I volunteer with several organizations that focus on community outreach programs.
Have You Participated in Any NCLM Events or Committees?
-
CityVision Annual Conference
-
Town & State Dinner or Town Hall Days
-
Affiliate Organizations: NC Association of Municipal Clerks
Please provide any other information you would like the Nominations Committee to consider.
