Burnsville Councilmember Dan Kealey Elected to National League of Cities Board, Appointed to Executive Committee
Published: December 31, 2025.
Provided by the City of Burnsville.
BURNSVILEE, MINNESOTA — Burnsville City Councilmember Dan Kealey has been elected to the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors, earning a prominent national leadership role representing Burnsville and Minnesota communities on federal, governance, and policy issues affecting cities nationwide.
Kealey was elected by NLC’s membership during the organization’s 2025 City Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition to joining the Board of Directors, Kealey was also appointed to the organization’s Executive Committee for 2026 by NLC President Kevin Kramer, Councilmember, Louisville, Kentucky. Kealey will serve a two-year term, helping guide NLC’s strategic direction, federal advocacy priorities, governance policies, and member engagement efforts.
“Serving on the NLC Board of Directors is a profound honor and a vital opportunity to ensure Burnsville has a seat at the table where national policy is shaped,” Kealey said in a statement. “By strengthening our federal-local partnerships, we can bring innovative solutions back home to address our community’s unique challenges while advocating for the resources all Minnesota cities need to thrive.”
A National Voice for Local Communities
The National League of Cities is the largest and most representative organization for cities, towns, and villages in the United States, advocating on behalf of local governments and their elected officials in Washington, D.C. The organization focuses on building strong federal-local partnerships to advance priorities such as infrastructure investment, public safety, housing, economic development, and community well-being.
NLC Board members are selected through a nomination process overseen by a 15-member nominating committee. They are confirmed by a vote of the organization’s membership at its annual business meeting each November.
As a member of both the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, Kealey will participate in leadership meetings held in January, March, June, and November, helping shape the organization’s long-term vision and policy agenda.
“The Board of Directors creates the vision and direction for our more than 19,000 cities, towns, and villages,” Kramer said. “I am ready to dive into the details with this extraordinary group of local leaders as we support strong and thriving communities across America.”
City Summit Brings Leaders Together
More than 3,000 mayors, councilmembers, and municipal leaders from nearly every state and the District of Columbia attended NLC’s annual City Summit in Salt Lake City. The event serves as a forum for local leaders to share best practices, discuss emerging challenges, and collaborate on innovative solutions to issues facing communities nationwide.
Local officials remain on the frontlines of many of the nation’s most pressing challenges, and NLC leaders say the organization plays a critical role in amplifying the voices of cities and towns at the national level.
Kealey’s election places Burnsville among a select group of cities with direct representation on NLC’s governing board, positioning the city to have greater influence on national discussions affecting local governments now and in the years ahead.
