On October 7, 2022, the Texas Municipal League (TML) and its 1,174 member cities announced

that Bridge City Mayor David Rutledge is the new TML president.

Rutledge has served on the TML Board of Directors since February 2019. He first served as a

director representing a TML affiliate group, the Texas Association of Mayors, Councilmembers

and Commissioners, and then as the director for TML Region 16, a 12-county area that includes

Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Lufkin.

“I am truly honored to be elected to serve the cities and citizens of the State of Texas. There are

numerous challenges faced by our cities including infrastructure, fiscal concerns, and unprecedented growth in our cities to name a few. I am looking forward to working with

mayors, council members, and other city leaders from across the state as we tackle these issues.”

Rutledge was elected the League’s president-elect on June 25, 2021, and will serve as president

through the 2023 TML Annual Conference and Exhibition in Dallas on October 4-6. He is the

first TML president from Bridge City.

He has served as the Bridge City mayor since 2016, previously serving as a councilmember from

2005-2010 and 2015-2016.

“As we move forward through the next year and beyond, how we respond to these challenges

today will lay the groundwork for future Texans,” he said. “By cities working together, we can

tackle these tough issues. The Texas Municipal League is there to help all city officials and staff

gain the training and information required to be better leaders for our cities.”

TML is a voluntary association established in 1913. Today, more than 16,000 mayors, council

members, city managers, city attorneys, and department heads are member officials of TML

through their cities’ participation. Guided by its purpose statement—Empowering Texas cities to

serve their citizens—the League provides legislative, legal, and training services to city

governments.