In addition to representing Ames, Mayor Ted Tedesco will serve as the voice of 949 other cities in Iowa.

Tedesco was elected President of the Iowa League of Cities by its members at the annual business meeting of the league in Cedar Rapids in December.

His responsibilities now include facilitating board meetings, lobbying the legislature and working with various city officials and press regarding city governments.

The Iowa League of Cities is an association of city governments that work together. Although all states have a League of Cities, Iowa’s is the oldest and a template for the other states, said Thomas Bredeweg, executive director of the Iowa League of Cities.

Out of the 950 Iowa cities, 880 belong to the league, he said.

The 70 cities that aren’t involved have extremely small populations, Bredeweg said.

“If something can be done better together, the league is the vehicle for that interaction,” he said.

Bredeweg said Tedesco would be an excellent president to facilitate interaction between Iowa towns.

“Ted brings a vitality and enthusiasm [to the league],” Bredeweg said. “He’s well-liked by the rest of the board and he’s literally been to the four corners of the state meeting mayors, lobbying and managing coordinated efforts between cities.”

Despite new responsibilities, Tedesco affirmed his mayoral duties wouldn’t be neglected.

“Most mayors already participate in the league, and I’ve been actively involved for years,” he said.

However, Tedesco said his presidential duties will bring an increase in status.

His clearest duty is officially representing the 950 Iowa cities, he said.

Tedesco said one of his goals for 2003 includes fixing the Iowa Revenue System, which severely inhibits economic growth by overtaxing commercial property.

The Iowa Revenue System hasn’t seen significant changes in the last 20 years, he said.

“We need to rectify the inhibitors put on local government that prevent growth,” Tedesco said.