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Cheryl Rakes, Deputy Mayor of the City of Auburn, has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) 2025 Public Safety and Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee. Deputy Mayor Rakes was elected to a one-year term and will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy agenda and policy priorities on crime prevention, corrections, substance abuse, gun violence, municipal fire policy, juvenile justice, disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and homeland security. The appointment was announced by NLC President Steve Patterson, Mayor of Athens, Ohio.
“Public safety and crime prevention are important topics that require collaboration across all levels of government,” said Deputy Mayor Rakes. “I’m excited to work with my colleagues throughout the United States on solutions that make a measurable difference nationally, and right here in Auburn.”
As a member of NLC’s Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee, Rakes will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions and advocating on behalf of America’s cities, towns and villages before Congress, with the administration and at home.
“NLC’s federal advocacy committees play a crucial role in advancing the policies and priorities of America’s 19,000 cities, towns, and villages with federal policymakers," said National League of Cities President Mayor Steve Patterson of Athens, Ohio. “I am excited to work with Deputy Mayor Rakes this year to help strengthen the relationships between local and federal leaders.”
The leadership of this year’s committee will consist of Chair Brian Kazy, Councilman, City of Cleveland, Ohio, Vice Chair Dontario Hardy, Mayor, City of Kinston, North Carolina, Vice Chair Nic Hunter, Mayor, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and LaShay Harris, Council Vice President, City of Rochester, New York.
Deputy Mayor Rakes has lived in Auburn since 1960, when her family moved from Bellingham because her father got a job at the fire department. He retired there in 1980 as a captain.
She attended Auburn schools and graduated in 1973. She then enrolled in Mr. Lee’s Beauty School and Knapp College of Business and took a few classes at Green River College. Rakes has been serving the Auburn community as Executive Director of the Downtown Auburn Cooperative since 2019, a position she loves as she gets to work directly with small businesses.
The City of Auburn is her true passion and where she’s laid her permanent roots. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Shawn, three children, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. She also enjoys all kinds of crafts such as sewing and crocheting.
She was appointed to the City Council filling a vacancy in 2023, won her seat in 2024, and was appointed Deputy Mayor in 2025.
For more information on NLC’s Federal Advocacy Committees, visit https://www.nlc.org/advocacy/federal-advocacy-committees/.
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