The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is a membership organization of the Chicago region’s 275 cities, towns, and villages. Founded in 1997 by then Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and leading Mayors from nine suburban municipal groups, the Mayors Caucus pushes past geographical boundaries and local interests to work on public policy issues. The Caucus provides a forum for metropolitan Chicago’s chief elected officials to collaborate on common problems and work toward a common goal of improving the quality of life for the millions of people who call the region home.
The full Mayors Caucus membership meets on a quarterly basis and is governed by an Executive Board that meets bi-monthly. The Caucus also currently has seven committees, task forces, collaboratives, and working groups that meet regularly to address specific regional issues. Full-time Caucus staff members work closely with the board and committees to move forward key policies and implement regionally collaborative programs.
The Strengths of The Caucus
One of the great strengths of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus is its informal organization. With freedom and flexibility built in, the Caucus is structured for success. While each of its meetings has an agenda, discussion is wide-ranging and free-wheeling with Mayors sharing ideas and developing joint solutions and positions of consensus on critical municipal and regional issues.
The Mayors Caucus respects the different perspectives that all of its independent municipalities bring to the organization. All these voices are heard, differences are aired, and then consensus is built on a single vision and focus so the Caucus can leverage the strength of a unified position on key issues.
The municipal organizations that participate in the Caucus include the City of Chicago and nine partner suburban municipal groups – the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, Lake County Municipal League, McHenry County Council of Governments, Metro West Council of Governments, Northwest Municipal Conference, South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, Southwest Conference of Mayors, West Central Municipal Conference and Will County Governmental League. The member municipalities of each of these organizations are considered to also be members of the Mayors Caucus.
The above partner organizations each appoint one director and one alternate to serve on the Caucus’ Executive Board. The Board meets every other month and is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the general operations of the Caucus. The Board selects a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
Consensus remains the basis for decision-making and actions taken by the Caucus as a whole. For this reason, the decisions and positions taken by the Mayors Caucus are advisory to the City of Chicago, participating suburban municipal groups, and individual member municipalities. Each partner organization and each mayor may act on recommendations of the Caucus as they see fit. The organization remains strong and viable because it recognizes the power of unity while never forgetting the importance of independence, flexibility, and freedom.
Caucus History
The Chicago region has some strong traditions. One of these is the tradition of independence frequently defined by our political and geographical boundaries. While independent voices and thinking are needed for a clear and fair perspective on issues, any region should embrace a grander vision that seeks value for many, not just a few. This was the “grand plan” of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley when he recognized the need several years ago for a new spirit of cooperation among the municipalities and regional municipal associations in the metropolitan Chicago region.
Mayor Daley’s vision was to unite Mayors from our seven-county region. He wanted to push past geographical boundaries and local interests to work on economic challenges and other public policy issues that could impact the lives of millions of people in our 275 municipalities. His vision became reality. On December 2, 1997, Mayor Daley convened a meeting of Mayors representing nine suburban municipal associations. Initially called the Economic Development Forum, the event made history: it was the first time that Mayors from all over the Chicago area had ever met together to share concerns and work toward resolution of common challenges.
This five-hour planning session began it all. The Mayors emerged with a strategy to establish the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus as a forum to foster regional cooperation. They pledged to work toward the common goal of improving the quality of life for all those in the greater metropolitan area. The Mayors also agreed to meet again to identify other vital issues for discussion and ways that they, as elected officials of their communities, could enhance partnerships with other government, business, and civic leaders. The Caucus: a forum for discussion and a force for change had been launched.