Brookhaven Ward 1 Alderman James Magee Jr. has completed the Professional Development Level of the Certified Municipal Official (CMO) program from the Mississippi Municipal League (MML).

The MML’s CMO program has three certification levels: Basic, which requires 60 hours of training focused on the basics of municipal organization, law, finance and land use; Advanced, which requires an additional 40 hours of training in community and economic development; and Professional Development, which requires another 40 hours of course work encouraging the improvement of skills such as public speaking, writing and interpersonal communications. Officials who earn the Professional Development Level must have first completed the Basic and Advanced Levels of the program.

“The Professional Development Level of the CMO program gives our municipal leaders the opportunity to focus on personal growth and improvement in leadership skills,” said MML Executive Director Shari T. Veazey. “Those who have completed all three levels of the CMO program have made a strong commitment to self-improvement and, as a result, will be more effective municipal leaders.”

The mission of the Mississippi Municipal League is helping cities and towns excel. MML is a non-partisan association established in 1931, representing 290 city, town and village governments in Mississippi. MML is also affiliated with the National League of Cities, a lobbying, legislative and legal arm representing municipalities before the U.S. Congress.