For Kathy Maness, joining the National League of Cities extended a family tradition.

Her father, who served on the Lancaster City Council, was part of the national advocacy organization connecting cities and towns across the U.S. Maness was reminded of this when she cleaned out her parents house after they died.

“I found a business card holder with his initials on it,” the Lexington Town Councilwoman told the Chronicle, recalling how her grandmother would come watch the kids when her parents traveled to league meetings. “On the inside of [the holder], it had National League of Cities, Indianapolis, Indiana, and the date. And so I have that in my pocket book with my National League of Cities business cards in it.

Maness wrapped up her year-long term as president of the organization on Nov. 19, the same week she attended President Joe Biden’s signing of the federal government’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill.

She was the league’s first president to hail from South Carolina. The group was founded in 1924.

“I know he would be proud,” Maness said of her father. “He would be very proud to know that his daughter has reached the highest you can reach as a municipal official, to be the president of the National League of Cities.”

Clarence Anthony, CEO and executive director for the group, praised Maness’ stewardship during a difficult year.

“Local leaders have been at the forefront of unprecedented challenges for the past year and a half,” he said. “Councilmember Maness delivered what we needed most — and that’s leadership for the times. She embraced her role as the National League of Cities’ ‘Zoom President’ by navigating challenges, encouraging folks to stay engaged and helping her fellow local leaders respond to crises, recover from the pandemic and rebuild America’s cities, towns and villages.”

Maness echoed that she will always be known as the “Zoom President,” adding that strategizing solutions to pandemic problems was a defining aspect of her tenure.

“We were meeting weekly, every Friday we had a zoom call,” she said. “We talked about what’s happening in cities and towns and how we can learn from one another. So that’s something that we’ve been able to bring back and that’s something that we’ve been able to share.”

Exchanging ideas about how to better cities and towns across the nation was one of the key values her presidency brought to Lexington, Maness emphasized.

She was able to share with other municipalities programs like Lexington’s $25 water bill rebate during the pandemic if citizens ate at a local restaurant.

Thanks to its membership in the organization, the town is able to take advantage of offerings like the league’s Service Line Warranty Program, which can help residents with water and sewer upkeep that doesn’t fall on the town’s side of the property line.

And while she wasn’t able to travel as president of the organization until June of this year, she said getting to see other cities and towns, and to witness the passion of public servants in other places, was one of the great pleasures of her presidency.

“I think that’s something that I found, the passion local elected officials have all over the United States,” Maness said. “It’s been great to see and to learn about some of the smallest towns. I’ve been to Maryland and Mississippi and a couple more. But to hear people, even in the smallest, smallest cities, talk about their love for their community, that’s been very powerful for me.”

Beyond representing Lexington and South Carolina and bringing back ideas to better her home, putting a voice to the issues facing smaller municipalities was important to her during her tenure.

“Last year’s president was from Los Angeles, California. This year’s president is from Lexington, South Carolina,” Maness said. “We need to have all voices of all sizes of cities and towns heard.”

Before she was president of the overall organization, Maness served as president of the league’s Women in Municipal Government group. Fostering more female participation in local government remains big for her.

“It’s important that we have more women in elected positions,” she said. “Women have different issues than men.”