City Manager Larry Asaro Named President of
Illinois City Management Association

Des Plaines City Manager Larry Asaro was recently elected President of the Illinois City Management Association. 327 individuals, including managers and assistant managers from metropolitan and downstate areas, comprise the ILCMA membership, (pictured above) City Manager Larry Asaro explains the history of City Management to a group of Maine West students involved in a summer government course held at City Hall.

Des Plaines City Manager Larry A. Asaro was elected President of the Illinois City Management Association on June 16, 1989. 327 individuals, including managers and assistant managers from metropolitan and downstate areas, comprise the ILCMA membership.

Mr. Asaro has served on the ILCMA Board of Directors since 1982. Prior to that he served as President of the Downstate Illinois Division while he was employed as the City Manager of Galesburg, Illinois.

According to Asaro, who has served as Des Plaines City Manager since September 1988, "The Illinois City Management Association is a professional organization for managers or assistants in municipalities and counties. The group has been organized since the 1950s which coincides with the growth of city management in Illinois."

With the increase in the number of assistant managers in ILCMA a separate division for assistants has been created which has approximately 219 members. Additionally 164 managers comprise the metro division and 54 comprise the downstate division.

Each division holds their own conferences and has their own separate board. As ILCMA President, Asaro will work all the affiliates. Once a year an annual conference is held when all the divisions get together. In the past the annual conference has been in Galena, Illinois.

Asaro initially became involved with the Association in 1973 when he was employed as City Manager of Salem, Illinois. From 1976 to 1979 he was employed in Marion, Iowa as the City Manager and, therefore, was a member of the Marion City Management Association. From 1979 to the present he has been with ILCMA.

Asaro is a Member of the American Society for Public Administration since 1968; Vice-President of the Illinois City Management Association; President of the downstate City Management Association; a Member of the International City Management Association and the Chicago-Metro Manager's Association. In addition, Mr. Asaro has participated in the Academy for Professional Development Western Illinois Police Training Unit Board and the Northwest Municipal Conference.

Besides being active in many community activities, Asaro has been involved with the Lions, the YMCA, the American Legion and the Boy Scouts of America. •

August 1989 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 23