March 28, 2024

Woods among first to become certified elected municipal official

Warren Woods, mayor for the city of Creston, is among five elected city officials to be awarded the Certified Elected Municipal Official (CEMO) designation. The designation was created by the Iowa League of Cities as a way to recognize elected officials who commit to continuing their professional development while in office.

The recognition program allows attendees to build towards the CEMO designation while receiving meaningful, informative and useful information on topics that expand the elected official’s knowledge and capabilities.

Participation in the program is 100 percent voluntary.

“Those achieving the CEMO designation spend many hours, often on weekends, attending workshops and conferences on the finer points of municipal government,” said Alan Kemp, executive director of the Iowa League of Cities. “This is a significant commitment to local government and I commend these five individuals for their dedication and motivation to become more effective municipal officials.”

The first CEMO designations were awarded Sept. 26 at a ceremony held at the Iowa League of Cities Annual Conference and Exhibit in Council Bluffs.

During the conference, Woods was elected president of the Executive Board of the Iowa League of Cities.

Woods has served as mayor since 2009.

Prior to becoming mayor of Creston, Woods worked in retail with three different companies – JCPenney, Pamida and Sernett Department Stores – in six different cities: Denver, Colo.; Scottsbluff, Neb.; Lincoln, Neb.; and then Oelwein, Independence and Creston in Iowa.

He also worked in sales and marketing for Gits Manufacturing in Creston. Woods, who is now retired, has also served on the city council in both Independence and Creston.

“I am extremely pleased and honored to be elected Iowa League of Cities Executive Board president,” Woods said. “Being involved in city government is where ‘the rubber meets the road’ or as one mayor put it ‘where the bug hits the windshield.’”

Woods’ wife, Judy, is a retired school teacher and principal. They have two children, Wendy Willets (spouse Chad) and Jeff Woods (spouse Nick), plus twin granddaughters Lauren and Olivia.