By Ed Somers and Conference Staff
November 18, 2002

The elections of November 5 saw former mayors and active members of the Conference of Mayors elected to many key national and state-wide offices. Both Republican and Democratic former mayors were elected to new offices, including the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and the Governor's office.

In a statement released after the election, Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino said, "Republican and Democratic mayors in the Conference are ready to work with the new Congress to address key priorities facing U.S. cities." A complete copy of Mayor Menino's statement is found above.

Senator-elect Norm Coleman (R-MN)

Former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman was elected to the U.S. Senate from Minnesota. Senator-elect Coleman served as mayor of St. Paul from 1994-2002, and was an Advisory Board Member of the Conference of Mayors. Senator-elect Coleman was extremely active in the Conference, working on priorities such as business and economic development.

During his debate with Vice President Walter Mondale, Coleman promoted the importance of encouraging affordable housing production as a key to creating jobs and improving the economy, and touted his experience as mayor with providing him the leadership background needed to be a successful U.S. Senator.

Representative-elect Jim Marshall (D-GA)

Former Macon Mayor Jim Marshall was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 3rd District of Georgia. Representative-elect Marshall served as mayor of Macon from 1995-1999, was an Advisory Board Member of the Conference of Mayors, and served as Co- Chair of the Brownfields Task Force — for which he testified before Congress.

Representative-elect Mike Turner (R-OH)

Former Dayton Mayor Mike Turner was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from the 3rd District of Ohio. Representative-elect Turner served as mayor of Dayton from 1994- 2000, and served as Co-Chair of the Brownfields Task Force — for which he also testified before Congress. Representative-elect Turner has said that in Congress, he wants to help make it easier for companies to redevelop brownfields in downtown areas by providing federal assistance and easing liability concerns.

Governor-elect Edward Rendell (D-PA)

Former Philadelphia Mayor Edward Rendell was elected to serve as Governor of Pennsylvania. Governor-elect Rendell served as mayor of Philadelphia from 1992 to 2000, was an Advisory Board Member of the Conference of Mayors, chaired the Gun Safety Task Force, and was extremely active on other key issues such as infrastructure investment and welfare-to-work. Governor-elect Rendell campaigned on his management skills in Philadelphia which helped eliminate a major budget deficit and bring new businesses into the city. Governor-elect Rendell is the first person from Philadelphia elected governor since 1914.

Governor-elect Linda Lingle (R-HI)

Former Maui Mayor Linda Lingle was elected to serve as Governor of Hawaii. Governor-elect Lingle was mayor of Maui from 1990 to 1998 and was an active member of the Conference of Mayors, participating in many Winter and Annual Meetings. Governor-elect Lingle will be Hawaii's first female governor, and first Republican to hold the position in 40 years. A major issue in her campaign was education.

Governor-elect Philip N. Bredesen (D-TN)

Former Mayor of Nashville Phil Bredesen was elected as Governor of Tennessee. Governor-elect Bredesen served as mayor of Nashville from 1991 to 1999, and was a key speaker at the Mayors Conference on Public Schools in May 1998. During the two-day Conference, then-mayor Bredesen addressed the mayors on the "core curriculum" that was adopted by the Nashville Public Schools in 1997 for grades K-6, making it the largest district in the U.S. to do so. "I believe personally that the mission of the public school system ought to be one, two and three — academic excellenceÉ core knowledge provides that clear mission," Bredesen explained at that meeting.

Ron Kirk (D-TX)