provided to The Santiva Chronicle
The City of Sanibel announced on Tuesday, Aug. 19, the induction of Vice Mayor Holly D. Smith as the 2025-2026 President of the Florida League of Cities, a prestigious statewide organization representing more than 400 municipalities across Florida.
It marks a significant accomplishment not only for Vice Mayor Smith, but for the entire Sanibel community and the expanded Southwest Florida areas.
Smith is the first president elected from the Southwest Florida region in the 100-plus-year history of the League. As President, she will lead efforts to advocate for local governments, champion municipal priorities, and ensure that cities like Sanibel have a strong voice in shaping statewide policy.
During her speech at the FLC conference, Smith emphasized the importance of Florida cities working together, as one voice, through the FLC, to learn from and to support each other.
She announced her platform at the conference, “Building Bridges- Leading Through Connection.” It’s a fitting analogy to the rebuild of the Sanibel Causeway to our island community after Hurricane Ian, perfectly demonstrating that by working together, the seemingly impossible can be accomplished.
“It is the honor of my lifetime to serve as President of the Florida League of Cities,” said Smith. “Together, we will build bridges across Florida, connecting our cities, towns, and villages, strengthening our voices, and ensuring every municipality has the opportunity to thrive. I’ve already rolled up my sleeves.”
Vice Mayor Smith has long been recognized for her dedication to public service, advocacy for municipal home rule, and community engagement. Her induction into this role underscores the value of Sanibel’s leadership and the importance of representation in Florida’s municipal decision-making.
In 2023, Vice Mayor Smith received FLC’s prestigious E. Harris Drew Municipal Official Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership as Mayor following Hurricane Ian’s catastrophic impacts on Sanibel on Sept. 28, 2022.
She serves as the Governor’s Appointee on the Federal South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and was recently named as the FLC’s representative on the National League of Cities Disaster Management Ad-Hoc committee.
Vice Mayor Smith’s biography and list of her current and past service on numerous local, regional, and state boards and committees are available on the City of Sanibel website.
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