Photo: New York Times
Local elected officials have a critical role to play in serving as a champion for projects that will make communities unique, attractive and sustainable places to live. Whether it’s declaring your community America’s Farm to Fork Capitol as Sacramento Mayor Johnson did (http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/10/31/mayor-proclaims-sacramento-farm-to-fork-capital-of-america/) or the solar capital of the world as Mayor Rex Parris in the City of Lancaster did (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/us/lancaster-calif-focuses-on-becoming-solar-capital-of-universe.html), having a committed local spokesperson can be a strong indicator for community success.