Herrera previously served as vice president of the Maryland-based organization, which has nearly 3,600 members.
He also served in a group of IMLA members made up of legal advisors for the 50 largest U.S. cities, which developed strategy on important legal issues such as homelessness, predatory lending practices and mortgage rescue scams, according to the city attorney's office.
IMLA Executive Director Charles W. Thompson said in a statement that Herrera "has demonstrated his dedication to improving the practice of local government law, local government ethics and service to the community."
IMLA helps local government officials prepare for litigation and develop new local laws. It also submits "friend of the court" briefs in legal cases heard in state and federal supreme courts and appeals courts.
