👤 Who: Shannon Hayes, Crestview City Council Member
🏛️ What: Appointed vice chair of the Florida League of Cities Municipal Operations Policy Committee
📅 When: Appointment announced for the 2025–2026 term; legislative session opens January 2025
📍 Where: Florida League of Cities, representing municipalities statewide; Hayes serves in Crestview, FL
❓ Why: To help develop the League’s legislative platform and advocate for municipal decision-making
Crestview City Council Member Shannon Hayes has been appointed vice chair of the Florida League of Cities’ Municipal Operations Policy Committee for the 2025–2026 term. The committee is one of five within the League that develops legislative priorities and guides state lawmakers on issues affecting municipalities.
The appointment was made by Florida League of Cities President Holly D. Smith, vice mayor of Sanibel. Committee members, including chairs and vice chairs, work with League staff to evaluate legislation that could affect local governments and shape the League’s annual legislative platform. That platform is presented to lawmakers during the upcoming legislative session, which opens in January.
As vice chair, Hayes will assist in setting the committee’s agenda and guiding discussions about municipal operations issues. He will also serve as an advocate for local decision-making when bills move through the state legislative process.
“I am proud to represent our area. I will make sure that we have a voice at the table when we present at the State Capitol in Tallahassee during the session opening in January,” Hayes said.
Hayes, a longtime member of the Crestview community, has an extensive background in leadership and public service. He first served on the Crestview City Council from 2013 to 2021 before returning in 2024. From 2014 to 2022, he was a member of the Northwest Florida League of Cities Board, and from 2022 to 2024 he served on the City of Crestview’s Planning Development Board.
Outside of elected office, Hayes has decades of professional and community experience. He graduated from Bethune-Cookman University with a degree in music and has worked for more than 50 years as a church musician and minister of music. He also spent 32 years as a retail manager with the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
The Florida League of Cities represents more than 400 municipalities across the state. Its legislative committees are designed to give city leaders a direct role in identifying issues that could impact local governance and providing recommendations to lawmakers. The Municipal Operations Policy Committee, in particular, focuses on policies that affect the day-to-day management and services of cities.
Hayes’ appointment places Crestview in a position to contribute to statewide conversations on municipal policy and decision-making.
A complete list of committee members and more details about the League’s legislative process are available through the Florida League of Cities.
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