By Judy Sheahan
September 9, 2002

Conference of Mayors Vice President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James Garner was appointed as an official U.S. delegate for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. Mayor Garner was the only local government representative on the United States delegation.

Mayor Garner had the opportunity to meet briefly with Secretary of State Colin Powell and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman to discuss the importance of the federal government working with mayors on the issue of sustainable development. He also invited Secretary Powell to participate in the Second International Conference of Mayors meeting to be held next year in Denver at the Annual Conference of Mayors.

Garner was responsible for monitoring World Summit Activities and doing outreach to other national constituencies, particularly local government representatives from throughout the world.

Garner also participated in a press conference on the topic of "good governance" with Ambassador Sichan Siv, the U.S. Representative to the United Nation's Economic and Social Council, and Kelly Johnson, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General with the Department of Justice.

At the press conference, Garner said, "You cannot have good domestic governance without the cooperation of all levels of government working together. All of us, federal, state and local governments have a role in protecting our citizens, providing them jobs and affordable housing and other basic services that are essential to ensure a high quality of life. By working together, we make this happen."