Denver City Council President Albus Brooks has been selected one of eight leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a national network committed to highlighting innovative ideas from pro-growth progressive state and local elected leaders.

“I congratulate this group of NewDEAL Leaders who have been chosen for their pro-growth policy solutions from the front lines of government,” said U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), an honorary co-chair of the NewDEAL, in a news release. “We are proud to highlight these leaders from across the country with innovative ideas to make government more efficient and effective.”

“We believe that in order to address the challenges of the 21st century, we need to look for fresh ideas at the state and local level where leaders like Albus Brooks are developing and testing innovative solutions to help move our country forward,” said Gov. Jack Markell (D-Del.), the other honorary co-chair of the NewDEAL, in the release.

Brooks represents District 9, which includes the heart of Denver and many of Denver’s top attractions, including lower downtown, Union Station, the Auraria Higher Education Center, the National Western Stock Show Complex, Denver Coliseum, Coors Field, Six Flags/Elitch Gardens and the Pepsi Center. District 9 is also home to much of Denver’s industrial corridor along Interstates 70 and 25.

Brooks was elected to his first term on City Council in 2011, where he represented District 8, and ran against 38 challengers, the most candidates in municipal history for a single seat. Brooks won by 2,000 votes and was the youngest councilperson to be elected in District 8 history.

In 2015, Brooks defeated two opponents to win re-election. New district boundaries now place Brooks in District 9. In July 2016, he was elected president of City Council by his colleagues.