LISBON — A handful of mayors and other village officials from across the state sit on the Board of the Ohio Municipal League (OML) — a statewide organization that acts as a support system and advocate for Ohio’s cities and villages — and Lisbon Fiscal Officer Tracey Wonner is one of them.

Wonner has served on the OML since 2021, and earlier this year, she told Lisbon Village Council she will serve as vice president of the OML board.

“My reaction to being appointed to the Ohio Municipal League Board of Directors was quite an unexpected honor being from a municipality of our size,” Wonner said.

Wonner said her time on the OML has been invaluable. It’s been a lesson in advocacy and empowerment — making sure municipalities of all shapes and sizes have a voice in Ohio as well as being a protector and a proponent of municipal rights which grant local governments the authority to govern themselves and their citizens.

“My experience has been overwhelming at times yet very rewarding,” she said. “It is a true learning experience to be able to serve on a board made up of cities and villages from around the state that is a true advocate for state policies that affect all municipalities in the State of Ohio.”

The Ohio Municipal League (OML) also works closely with Ohio legislators and serves as the primary connection point between municipal and state government in Ohio, representing the interests of cities and villages before the Ohio General Assembly and state offices.

Wonner will be a pivotal part of that process when she steps into her new role as a board officer.

According to OML website, the league was established in 1912 and after being disbanded for a number of years was incorporated as an Ohio non-profit corporation in 1952 by city and village officials who saw the need for a statewide association to serve the interests of Ohio municipal government. The OML Board of Trustees is elected by the membership and the board is the policy-making body. Any city or village, by proper action of its legislative body and payment of the annual membership fee, may become a member. When an Ohio municipality becomes an active OML member, all of the elected and key appointed officials are eligible to use the available services.

Aside from lobbying the Ohio General Assembly and other state offices on behalf of its member cities and villages and advocating for legislation beneficial to municipalities and their citizens, the OML performs a long list of other duties. Those duties include but are not limited to conducting training programs, seminars, and meetings on various topics relevant to municipal government, publishing “Cities & Villages” magazine (a handbook on municipal government and a guide to adopting municipal charters) and helping local governments operate effectively.

As for Wonner, it seems a logical step that she would sit on a board that advocates for the interest of municipalities across Ohio. After all, she has made a career of municipal service.

Wonner marks 24 years with the Village of Lisbon this month, having served as Lisbon Fiscal Officer since June of 2001. In addition to her position at Lisbon, she is in her second term as Elkrun Township Fiscal Officer.

Wonner is also a member of the Ohio Municipal Clerks Association, a group that advances the municipal clerk profession through education, networking and mentoring. She has previously served on that organization’s board of directors as well as the table of officers and held the office of President for the 2012-13 term. She is also a member of the International Municipal Clerks Association.