Doug Linkhart has served as President of the National Civic League since December 2015. Prior to his work at the National Civic League, Doug served in elective office for 18 years, including as a Denver City Councilman and Colorado State Representative and Senator. Doug also served for four years as the Executive Director of Denver’s Department of Public Health and Environment. Doug started his career by managing local campaigns, then worked in the federal government as a Presidential Management Intern. He later ran his own consulting business, spending his free time as a newspaper columnist and neighborhood and political activist, later founding a nonprofit organization to serve neighborhood associations and their residents.

At the National Civic League, Doug’s life-long values of inclusiveness and equity are evident in his work to create new programs on racial equity, community health disparities and sustainability. He initiated a revision of the 30-year-old Civic Index to make sure that it encourages communities to incorporate equity and inclusiveness in their civic engagement work. Doug has also created new collaborations with many other national organizations and taken steps to broaden the impact of the League by reaching a bigger audience with their publications and tools.