Mar. 9 - About the Mayor

News About Mayors From Around The Nation

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Consecutive issues of Roll Call, a Capitol Hill publication, have reported that two mayors may be seeking Congressional seats.

The February 16 issue of the publication said that Cincinnati's Democratic Mayor Roxanne Qualls may challenge Republican sophomore Rep. Steve Chabot for the First District Seat.

The February 23 issue notes that among many challengers expected to file for the seat of retiring Rep. Joe McDade, Scranton Mayor Jim Connors may be among those joining the bid to replace McDade who has represented that district in Congress for 36 years.

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan is wooing support in his city to promote the region in technology. As announced by City Hall February 18, the Mayor has joined with the industry and the Los Angeles New Media Roundtable to tag "Digital Coast" as the name to promote the new media community. City Hall estimates that the industry employs 133,000 people, a figure it says exceeds more than the New York and San Francisco Bay Area combined.

West Palm Beach Mayor Nancy Graham highlighted her city's unique Mediterranean architecture February 10 by opening a new community center. The multi-cultural center used the talents of local artist R.J. Duffy who designed an exterior wall, painting a large mural entitled "We Are The Future."

In the March 9 issue of TIME magazine, an article entitled "Miracle in New Orleans" attributing Mayor Marc Morial with an innovative program to save a run-down housing project by giving the authority to run the housing of 55,000 people to Tulane University senior vice president Ron Mason. The result was 150 teachers and 500 students, working together with community leaders, have turned around the once crime-ridden neighborhoods. Response time for things like plumbing repairs have been reduced from months to days or hours, criminals and drug users have been evicted and tenant groups, who once fought against the city, are now helping make the projects a safer place. In addition, 354 jobs have been found for residents, 600 youths have been placed in basketball and other sports programs, and 10 summer camps have been started.

Bloomington (IN) Mayor John Fernandez has been honored as one of 16 people to serve as a member of the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC). LGAC was formed by the Environmental Protection Agency to address the challenges faced by local governments in implementing Federal environmental programs. It is charged with recommending projects to the Administrator of the US EPA to improve implementation and create more effective partnerships with local jurisdictions. "I am deeply honored," said Mayor Fernandez. "Local elected officials experience on the front lines offer the EPA unique insights into the effectiveness of environmental protection initiatives across the nation. As Mayor, I can provide a reality check for federal programs."