The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, announced the election of its officers for the 2025-2026 term. Holly D. Smith, Vice Mayor of the City of Sanibel, was elected President of the League by FLC membership and will serve a one-year term.

“It is the honor of my lifetime to serve as President of the Florida League of Cities,” said Smith upon her installation. “I’m proud to continue championing the voices of our local leaders and to work collaboratively to ensure Florida’s cities are strong, resilient, and empowered to thrive.”

Joining Smith is an impressive list of Florida leaders serving as officers with the Florida League of Cities for the 2025-2026 term including:

• Florida League of Cities First Vice President: Mark Franks, Mayor, Town of Shalimar
• Florida League of Cities Second Vice President: Sarah Stoeckel, Councilmember, City of Titusville

Smith has served on the Sanibel City Council since 2017 and was elected to full four-year terms in both 2018 and 2022. Prior to her Council service, she was a member of the Sanibel Planning Commission from 2009 to 2017.

Many recognize Smith for her role as Mayor of Sanibel Island before, during, and after Hurricane Ian came ashore with a direct hit to the city. During her installation, Smith announced her platform for the upcoming year, “Building Bridges. Leading through Connection,” a fitting analogy to the rebuild of the Sanibel Causeway after Hurricane Ian, demonstrating that by working together, the seemingly impossible can be accomplished.

A dedicated public servant, Smith has held numerous leadership and liaison roles at the local, regional, and state levels. She serves as Sanibel’s representative to the Lee County Tourist Development Council, Horizon Council, and Coalition of Mayors, as well as the Governor’s Appointee on the Federal South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. Smith was recently named as the FLC representative on the National League of Cities National Disaster Ad-Hoc committee.

She also serves on or chairs multiple Florida League of Cities committees, including Advocacy, the Legislative Policy Committee, and the Federal Action Strike Team, and is Sanibel’s Voting Delegate to the National League of Cities.

Smith has been recognized as a Florida League of Cities Home Rule Hero every year since 2018 for her advocacy on behalf of local governments. In 2023, she received the League’s prestigious E. Harris Drew Municipal Official Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership as Mayor following Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic impacts to Sanibel on September 28, 2022. The award recognizes and honors local elected officials who have made lasting and worthwhile contributions to the citizens of Florida through their efforts and dedication in the performance of their duties at the local level.

Smith’s lengthy list of local community and business commitment spans nearly 35 years in the Sanibel area and across state and federal levels. A complete bio for President Smith can be found on the Sanibel City website www.mysanibel.com.