Area mayors attend national conference

While the nation’s mayors had many topics to discuss among themselves and with federal officials as the U.S. Conference of Mayors met this week in Washington, D.C., they planned to take time to sign a civility accord presented by leaders of the group and Mayor Robert Walkup of Tucson, Ariz.

More than 230 mayors were expected at the winter meeting of the conference, which ends Friday, Jan. 21. Among local attendees are Arlene Mulder, Arlington Heights; Rodney Craig, Hanover Park; William D. McLeod, Hoffman Estates; Kevin Richardson, Lake Barrington; and Irvana K. Wilks, Mount Prospect.

Tucson was the site of the recent shooting at a political event that left six people dead and 13 injured.

The mayors called on Congress to work together in a spirit of civility and to focus on job creation.

Mulder said the mayors try to work together even though they come from different political parties.

“There’s no reason not to be civil to anybody,” she said. “It’s human respect you have to give to another person even if you are completely opposite on certain issues. You will agree on others.”

The mayors also planned to honor retiring Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago and the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of President John F. Kennedy.