By Shannon Wright
When you hear the words Small Town Mayors’ Alliance hosted by the Town of Sibley, “national security-level event” probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, when Mayor Robert Smart and Town Clerk Sherry McCann are at the helm, expectations are exceeded and the outcome is unforgettable.
The Town of Sibley kicked off the Small Town Mayors’ Alliance Conference at the Minden Civic Center on Wednesday, September 24. With more than 100 attendees, including mayors, clerks, law enforcement officers, council members, vendors, and volunteers, the event was already set to be impactful. Then it became something even more significant.
Originally scheduled to speak was Sibley native Kelly Lary Johnson. However, in a surprise move that left the room buzzing, she stepped aside to introduce her husband, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.
In a keynote address that stirred both patriotism and small-town pride, Speaker Johnson focused on core American values: faith, family, and freedom. Addressing a room full of local leaders, he called on them to model their leadership after conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, emphasizing a people-first approach rooted in compassion and conviction.
“His approach was to win over the people. He was motivated by his love for people,” Johnson noted, urging the attendees to lead from the heart.
“We live in the greatest nation in the history of the world, everybody in this room knows that,” Johnson said. “We are the most free, most successful, most powerful, and most benevolent nation that has ever been on the face of the earth.”
Johnson stressed that America’s greatness wasn’t accidental. He credited the nation’s founding principles, deeply rooted in Biblical values, and drew a parallel between the nation’s founders and the mayors and leaders gathered in the room.
The message was clear: Small towns are the heartbeat of America, and it is up to their leaders to preserve the values that make the nation strong.
The event was a reminder of the critical role that small-town leadership plays in shaping the American dream.