Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke was among newly-elected mayors meeting at the White House with President Obama on Friday.
The president was "to discuss the ways in which the Obama Administration can serve as an active partner on job creation and ensuring middle class families have a pathway to opportunity. This meeting builds on the unprecedented effort of the Administration to partner with Mayors working to implement policies that lead to high-paying, high-skill jobs in their communities. Mayors understand that smart investments in things like American manufacturing and infrastructure help provide good jobs for middle class families while providing a foundation for long-term economic success.
Mayor Berke said, “This is a great opportunity to highlight the important assets that create local jobs and strengthen Chattanooga's economy. From our resurgence in manufacturing to our spirit of entrepreneurism spurred by the gigabit infrastructure, we are a city full of opportunity. I am excited to join a handful of mayors from across the country to discuss the innovative ways we can build upon our successes.”
The following mayors and mayors-elect were expected to attend:
• Los Angeles, CA Mayor Eric Garcetti
• St. Petersburg, FL Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman
• Boston, MA Mayor-elect Martin Walsh
• Detroit, MI Mayor-elect Mike Duggan
• Minneapolis, MN Mayor-elect Betsy Hodges
• Jersey City, NJ Mayor Steven Fulop
• New York, NY Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio
• Rochester, NY Mayor-elect Lovely Warren
• Charlotte, NC Mayor-elect Patrick Cannon
• Greensboro, NC Mayor Nancy Vaughan
• Cincinnati, OH Mayor John Cranley
• Toledo, OH Mayor-elect D. Michael Collins
• Harrisburg, PA Mayor-elect Eric Papenfuse
• Pittsburgh, PA Mayor-elect Bill Peduto
• Chattanooga, TN Mayor Andy Berke
• Seattle, WA Mayor-elect Ed Murray