Senator Kelli Ward has been elected class president of the Western Legislative Academy (WLA) 2013. Senator Ward was one of 38 legislators to complete the program in November at Colorado Springs, Colorado. Members of the Academy are selected on the basis of their dedication to public service; desire to improve personal legislative effectiveness and commitment to the institution of the legislature.

Each year the Council of State Governments West brings together national faculty to offer a training experience for Western state legislators in their first four years of service. As president of this year’s WLA, Senator Ward will serve on the CSG Executive Committee for the next year, representing the interests of the 500 alumni of the program, including almost 300 who are still serving in Western state legislatures.

Founded in 1933, the Council of State Governments is the nation’s only organization serving all three branches of state government. CSG is a region-based forum that fosters the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy.