Town of Malabar Council Member Wayne Abare and Council Member Frederick Heiler Graduate from Institute for Elected Municipal Officials Course

Malabar, FL – The Town of Malabar announced today that Wayne Abare and Frederick Heiler recently graduated from the Institute for Elected Municipal Officials (IEMO), a course from the Florida League of Cities’ premier educational program designed specifically for Florida’s elected municipal officials.

Council Member Abare and Council Member Heiler completed the first level of IEMO training, which is specially designed for newly elected officials and those with less than one term in office. The comprehensive 16-hour course provides participants with an intensive academic program focusing on the numerous aspects of municipal government. Topics of the course include municipal government structure, introduction to municipal finance, council relationships, and more.

IEMO class sizes are kept small, which allows participants to network and share ideas with other elected officials in a personal group setting. By creating an environment in which challenges and best practices are shared, many IEMO graduates have been able to develop solutions to local problems.

“I learned a lot at the conference, and appreciated hearing all of the different ways local municipalities are seeking to work with the new Property Tax Reform Bill.” – Council Member Abare about his experience at IEMO.

“Effective local government begins with informed leadership. This program provided valuable insight into the responsibilities of municipal office and reinforced my commitment to serving the residents of Malabar with integrity, transparency and accountability. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from experienced municipal leaders and look forward to applying these lessons in service to our community.– Council Member Heiler about his experience at IEMO.

Created more than 30 years ago to educate newly elected officials on the intricacies of municipal government in a cost-effective manner, the IEMO program grew out of a partnership between the Florida League of Cities and the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government. Today, the program offers multiple levels of training, with each designed specifically for municipal officials of all levels. It is the most popular training that the Florida League of Cities offers.

“The IEMO program is about more than training; it’s about empowering leaders to serve with knowledge, compassion, and confidence,” said FLC President Holly D. Smith, Vice Mayor of the City of Sanibel. “From budgeting and public meetings to ethics and community engagement, every session is designed to give elected officials the real-world knowledge they need to lead effectively. I am proud of the graduates who have taken this step to invest in themselves and in their communities.

Those officials who completed IEMO can receive credit toward FLCU’s Certificate Program for Elected Officials, which recognizes elected officials who take part in the League’s many training opportunities. Once they sign up, this multi-level certificate of achievement program allows attendees to earn points for the activities and events they attend and participate in. To learn more, visit flcities.com/certificate.