Mayor of Aurora; Colorado

Steve Hogan (born c. 1948) is an American politician who has served as the

Mayor of Aurora, Colorado since November 2011. Hogan is a member of the Republican Party.

Specializing in transport management, Hogan was the executive director of the E-470 Public Highway Authority from 1991 to 1998, leaving that year to run the Northwest Parkway Authority until 2008.

Outside of the city council, Hogan has twice been a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives; the first in 1982, when he was the Democratic nominee in the 6th district against Republican Jack Swigert of Apollo 13 fame, emphasizing his political experience compared to political novice Swigert.[6] Swigert emerged victorious, but died from cancer before he could assume office, and Hogan once more represented the Democrats in the 1983 special election that followed. He ran on a campaign criticizing the economic and defense policies of President Ronald Reagan, whilst advocating higher taxes to reduce the federal deficit, and lost to Republican state senator Dan Schaefer.

At some stage becoming a Republican, Hogan made a second run for the Aurora mayoralty (the first being a failed attempt in 1987) in 2011. He took advantage of his image as an adept budget manager, and was described in The Denver Post as a man with a 'reputation as problem-solver and capable manager' in its endorsement. In the 6-person race, Hogan was seen as the establishment candidate, enjoying bipartisan support, including from the local branch of the AFL-CIO, and won the November election with 37% of the vote.

His mayoralty received national attention when 12 people were killed during the 2012 Aurora shooting.

Hogan has been the recipient of several awards, including: the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award from the City of Aurora; Outstanding Legislator from the Colorado Chapter of Disabled American Veterans; the Community Leadership Award from the Aurora Chamber of Commerce; and the Circle of Life Award from the Northern Aurora Business Association.

Hogan is on the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and the Aurora Economic Development Council. He lives in the High Point neighbourhood with his wife, Becky.

Mayor of Santa Ana; California

Miguel A. Pulido (born 1956) is an American politician. He is the mayor of the

city of Santa Ana, California. He was first elected to City Council on November 4, 1986. He became the first Latino mayor in the city's history on November 8, 1994. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Under Mayor Pulido's leadership, the City of Santa Ana has benefited from a tremendous growth in economic opportunities. Because of him, the City of Santa Ana was designated an Enterprise Zone by the State of California in 1993 to promote business growth, and job generation by offering state tax credits, and highly valuable incentives to businesses. Furthermore, Pulido secured Federal Empowerment Zone status for some of the City's most disadvantaged neighborhoods, delivering federal funds to build capital, and increase employment and to provide needed services to these residents. Mayor Pulido was appointed to serve on the State of California Workforce Investment Board to further employment opportunities, and job services for the residents.

Pulido is currently under investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for a property swap involving a city contractor, in which the mayor ended up profiting $200,000.  The mayor voted for a $1.4-million city contract with an auto parts firm, NAPA Orange County, just over a year after he bought a home from the firm's owner for $230,000 less than fair market value. 

A number of projects have been completed during his mayorship which have led to the improvement of the city in many areas. Miguel Pulido was a key factor in bringing in the Orange County High School of the Arts into the Santa Ana Midtown District, as well as the Ronald Reagan Federal Building and United States Courthouse which was competed for by other cities in the county.

Mayor of St. Louis; Missouri

Francis G. Slay (born March 18, 1955) is an American politician and the 45th

Mayor of St. Louis, Missouri since 2001. The first mayor of the city of St. Louis to be elected to the office four consecutive times, Slay is the longest serving Mayor in St. Louis history. His fourth term started in April 2013. He announced on April 8, 2016 that he would not seek another term as mayor. He is registered in the Democratic Party.

Slay graduated from St. Mary's High School in 1973. He received a degree in political science from Quincy College and a law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law. After graduating from law school, Slay served as a law clerk for Judge Paul J. Simon of the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District. In 1981, he joined the law firm of Guilfoil, Petzall, and Shoemake where he specialized in business law and commercial litigation. Slay was elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 1985, representing the 23rd ward. In 1995, he was elected President of the Board of Aldermen, and in 1999 was re-elected without opposition.
Slay defeated incumbent mayor Clarence Harmon and former mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr. in the Democratic Primary in 2001.

Slay is the second of eleven children. His father, Francis R. Slay, was affiliated with St. Raymond's Maronite Catholic Cathedral in St. Louis, and was the long-time Democratic Committeeman in the 23rd Ward, and who once served as Recorder of Deeds. Francis R. Slay died on March 16, 2011, aged 83.

Slay and his wife Kim have two children and three rescued dogs. Slay is a Maronite Catholic and also an avid supporter of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and of Roman Catholic organizations in the city. He is of Lebanese and Polish ancestry.

Mayor of Riverside; California

Since graduating from West Point with a degree in political science in 1994,

Rusty has worked in a variety of public service positions and has earned a Master's Degree in Public Policy from UCLA.

Among his many accomplishments, Rusty has served as a helicopter pilot, Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in the U.S. Army, and has served as a Legislative Aide for County Supervisor John F. Tavaglione. In addition, Rusty has worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Executive Office of the President as a Presidential Management Fellow, as well as for the Riverside County Economic Development Agency. Mayor Bailey enjoys time with his two daughters, Elizabeth and Julia and his wife, Judy.

Mayor of Corpus Christi; Texas

Nelda Martinez (born July 22, 1961) is an American politician who is the

current mayor of the Texan city of Corpus Christi.

Nelda founded and served as President of First American Closing Office and later sold the successful business to Stewart Title. Nelda has owned and grown four successful businesses. Today, Nelda serves as President, Owner of Adlen, Enterprises, Inc.

Nelda served as President of the Corpus Christi Chapter of Executive Women International. In 1999, the Coastal Bend Area GI Forum Women’s Chapter honored Nelda as the “Outstanding Businesswoman of the Year,” the YWCA gave her the “Y Women in Careers Award for Corporate/Business Management in 2000 and the US Small Business Administration, awarded Nelda the 2007 “Women in Business Champion.” At the 25th Annual State Conference, the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas honored Nelda as an Estrella of Tejas, Star of Texas. Recently, the Texas Speech Communication Association awarded Nelda the “Communicator of the Year for 2013-2014.

Nelda Martinez is the current Mayor of Corpus Christi, Texas.She was elected in 2012. Before becoming mayor, she was an at-large member of the Corpus Christi City Council from 2007 to 2012. Martinez has announced that she will run for re-election for a third and final term in 2016.

The city issued a advisory on May 13, 2016 after low levels of chlorine disinfectant were detected in the city’s water system, making the water risky for residents to ingest. Similar advisories were issued in July and September 2015. The coastal city of about 300,000 issued a widespread water boil advisory, its third in the past 10 months. Much has happened since the boil advisory began. Corpus Christi city manager Ron Olson resigned from office on May 17, 2016 amid the scandal, and residents are now urging Mayor Nelda Martinez to follow in his footsteps. The situation has also caught the attention of well-known environmental activist Erin Brockovich, whose colleague, the water quality expert Robert Bowcock, traveled to Corpus Christi to participate in a special city council meeting on the matter. He told the council that he's heard about the 'chlorine burns' being used to sanitize the water system. He recommends stopping the practice. Bowcock also stated that 3 water advisories in a short period of time shows "It's clear you're chasing your tail. City staff knew about the current issue back in March 2016 when quality problems were found on North Beach. In response, hydrants were flushed in that area. Also in March 2016, there were problems found in the Glenmore neighborhood (near Alameda and Ennis Joslin), that brought the attention of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The public was not informed about a problem with the water until the evening of May 13th 2016 when a city wide boil advisory was put in place after bacteria levels were found in samples from Flour Bluff neighborhoods. The water department states no e coli contamination was found in this round of testing, which is what caused a prolonged water boil issue the previous summer.

In light of all of our water issues, residents say the mayor should step down. Residents have contacted the city secretary's office to start a petition to recall Mayor Nelda Martinez. One of those residents include Leah Rand who has started a Facebook page called "Corpus Christi Recall of Mayor Martinez". The calls come as the city enters its sixth day of a water boil notice. In her push for mayor recall, Tiner said in a statement, "The mayor should be held accountable. She is the one who oversees the best interest of the citizens. We're not getting that right now." Tiner needs 10 percent of registered voters signatures in order to call for a recall in the next election in November 2016. Tiner says she's getting a lot of support from the public. "People are upset. They're tired of the excuses. You know from the get go. The truth has not been told to us since this started. Since this water boil started, the truth has not been told," she said.

Mayor of Pittsburgh; Pennsylvania

William Mark "Bill" Peduto[5] (born October 30, 1964) is an American

politician who served as the 60th Mayor of Pittsburgh. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a member of the Pittsburgh City Council from 2002 until 2014.

Prior to being elected to City Council, Peduto attended Pennsylvania State University, from which he dropped out before later completing his degree. He ran a consulting business and later served as Chief of Staff to his predecessor in City Council, Dan Cohen. Peduto was elected to City Council in 2001 and served from 2002 until 2014. During that time, he ran for Mayor of Pittsburgh three times. In 2005, he ran in the Democratic primary but was defeated by Bob O'Connor, who went on to become mayor in 2006. Peduto again ran in a 2007 special election following O'Connor's death; however, he dropped out before the primary. He ran for mayor for a third time in 2013, this time winning the Democratic nomination and emerging victorious.

In the 2013 election, Peduto defeated opponents Joshua Wander and Lester Ludwig, winning 84% of the vote. After being elected Mayor to succeed the outgoing Luke Ravenstahl, Peduto was inaugurated in January 2014.

In December 2012, Peduto officially launched his third mayoral campaign, announcing that he would challenge Luke Ravenstahl in the 2013 mayoral primary, and was immediately endorsed by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. He simultaneously announced that he would not seek re-election to a fourth term on City Council. Ravenstahl announced in March 2013 that he would not seek another term as Mayor. Several other candidates launched campaigns but after Ravenstahl's exit, the race evolved into a two-way race between Peduto and former Pennsylvania Auditor General Jack Wagner. In the May 21 primary, Peduto defeated his opponents, receiving 52% of the vote. Wagner, his closest challenger, received 40%.

In November 2013, Peduto defeated Republican candidate Joshua Wander, who was residing in Israel at the time of the election, and independent candidate Lester Ludwig to be elected as the city's 60th mayor, receiving 84% of the vote. He was inaugurated on January 6, 2014. However, Pittsburgh is heavily Democratic, and Peduto effectively assured himself of becoming mayor with his primary win.

Peduto is an advocate for ride-sharing in Pittsburgh. After the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission issued cease-and-desist orders in July 2014, Peduto called on the state legislature to allow ride-sharing operators to legally operate in Pittsburgh. Subsequently, ride-sharing service Lyft acquired temporary approval for operation in August 2014 pending a hearing regarding a permanent license.

In July 2014, Peduto and the City of Pittsburgh dropped a lawsuit that his predecessor, Luke Ravenstahl, had launched against UPMC, challenging its tax-exempt status. Peduto indicated his belief that the lawsuit impeded progress in ongoing negotiations between UPMC and the city regarding the payment of taxes.

Bill Peduto was born on October 30, 1964, and graduated from Chartiers Valley High School in 1983. After one year at Carnegie Mellon University, Peduto transferred to Pennsylvania State University, pursuing a degree in political science. He dropped out, however, before completing the degree requirements. In 2007, Peduto returned to finish his degree requirements and became the only member of the nine-member Pittsburgh City Council at the time to have a bachelor's degree. Later, he received a master's degree in public policy and management from the University of Pittsburgh.
Peduto operated a political consulting business and served as general consultant, campaign manager, finance director and other roles for several Democratic candidates and elected officials. At 28, he served as a political director for then-acting Governor Mark Singel. He also worked in Washington, D.C. as an intern to then-U.S. Representative George Gekas.

Mayor of Lexington-Fayette; Kentucky

James "Jim" P. Gray II (born 1953) is the mayor of Lexington, Kentucky

(Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government). Gray served as the city's vice-mayor from 2006 to 2010 before being elected mayor in November 2010. Gray won re-election to another four-year term on November 4, 2014.He is currently running for the United States Senate in 2016 for the seat currently held by U.S. Senator Rand Paul and easily won the May 17 primary with nearly 60% of the vote.

Gray was Chairman and CEO of Gray Construction, a nationally ranked engineering, design, and construction company headquartered in Lexington. Once elected, he took an advisory role as Chair of the Board of Directors to focus on his role as mayor.

In 2010, Gray entered the race for mayor, challenging the incumbent Jim Newberry.

During the campaign, Gray developed the "Fresh Start Plan," containing a pledge to run the government like a good business, with increased transparency and efficiency and with reduced spending and debt.

In November 2010, Gray defeated Newberry 53% to 46%.

Before his first day as mayor, Gray had the entire mayor's office moved from the 12th floor of Lexington's government center to a first-floor ballroom, creating an open office atmosphere that was inspired by his own office at Gray. To learn about operations of a city government, the newly elected mayor paid a visit to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Gray has publicly stated that his administration is focused on three areas: creating jobs, making government more efficient, and building Lexington into a great American city.

With Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Gray launched a joint Lexington-Louisville economic-development initiative in conjunction with the Brookings Institution. The Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement (BEAM) project is aimed at building the bluegrass region of Kentucky as a global center for advanced manufacturing.

In 2010, Gray entered the race for mayor, challenging the incumbent Jim Newberry.

During the campaign, Gray developed the "Fresh Start Plan," containing a pledge to run the government like a good business, with increased transparency and efficiency and with reduced spending and debt.

In November 2010, Gray defeated Newberry 53% to 46%.

Before his first day as mayor, Gray had the entire mayor's office moved from the 12th floor of Lexington's government center to a first-floor ballroom, creating an open office atmosphere that was inspired by his own office at Gray. To learn about operations of a city government, the newly elected mayor paid a visit to Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Gray has publicly stated that his administration is focused on three areas: creating jobs, making government more efficient, and building Lexington into a great American city.

With Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Gray launched a joint Lexington-Louisville economic-development initiative in conjunction with the Brookings Institution. The Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement (BEAM) project is aimed at building the bluegrass region of Kentucky as a global center for advanced manufacturing.

A lifelong collector of modern art, Gray, in 2000, created and helped endow the Gray Art Experience, an annual art-appreciation trip to New York City for University of Kentucky Gaines Fellows.

Gray was married for seven years and has no children. In 2005, Gray publicly announced that he is gay.

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Mayor of Anchorage municipality, Alaska

Ethan A. Berkowitz (born February 4, 1962) is an American politician who is

the Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska. He was previously the Alaska State Representative for District 26 from 1997 through 2007, serving as the Democratic Party Minority Leader from 1999 to 2007. He was the Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2006, for Alaska's at-large congressional district in 2008 and for Governor in 2010. He was elected Mayor of Anchorage in 2015.

Berkowitz was born on February 4, 1962 in San Francisco, California. He received his degrees from Harvard College (1983, government and economics, with honors), Cambridge University (MPhil, polar studies, 1986), and The University of California Hastings College of Law (1990). He moved to Alaska in 1990 and is a lawyer and business owner.

Berkowitz ran for mayor of Anchorage in 2015. He finished ahead of the rest of the field in the nonpartisan primary on April 7, advancing to a runoff with Assemblywoman Amy Demboski. He was endorsed by third-place finisher, former Republican state representative Andrew Halcro. He won the runoff election on May 5 by a 19-point margin.

On July 1, 2015, Berkowitz was sworn in as Anchorage's mayor. In his inauguration speech, he urged city residents and leaders to work to overcome differences and "rise above the immediacy and smallness of the moment".

Berkowitz took the position of Senior Vice President of the Anchorage, Alaska branch of Strategies 360 in February, 2011.

Berkowitz is currently the co-host of the Bernadette and Berkowitz Show on Anchorage radio station KFQD. During the 2015 mayoral campaign, comments he made on the show attracted controversy. During an argument with co-host Bernadette Wilson over same-sex marriage, Berkowitz said, "I support the idea of adults being able to choose who they have a relationship with. Father and son should be allowed to marry, if they’re both consenting adults — if you’re defining marriage as the bundle of rights and privileges that’s now accrued to people, then yes." Wilson and his election opponent, Amy Demboski, were critical of the remark, which Berkowitz later called a "hypothetical insinuation", denying that he supports incest.

Mayor of Stockton; California

Mayor Anthony Silva was elected in November, 2012.  He was born and raised

in Stockton, graduating from Lincoln High School and Humphrey's College. Anthony is a single father of eight-year-old Caden Silva.

He has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stockton for the past six years. In 2013, the Boys & Girls Club of Stockton will be celebrating 50 years of service in our community.

From 2004 to 2008, Mayor Silva served as a member of the Stockton Unified District Board of Education and was appointed Board President in 2006 and 2007.  He has also served as a City of Stockton Parks & Recreation Commissioner.

Mayor Silva has a passion for helping youth and, as a result, he sits on many local non-profit Board of Directors, including: Stockton Silver Lake Camp, Miss San Joaquin and the East Stockton Yellowjackets.

Mayor Silva has made it a priority to reduce the crime and violence in the City.

Mayor of Cincinnati; Ohio

John Joseph Cranley (born February 28, 1974) is the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio.

A member of the Democratic Party, he was a member of the Cincinnati city council and a partner of City Lights Development. Cranley is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard Divinity School and co-founder of the Ohio Innocence Project at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Before his election as mayor, he was an attorney with the law firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp.

Cranley was born in Green Township to John Joseph "Jay" Cranley (born 1946) and his wife, Susan (born 1947). His father is a life estate planner and Vietnam veteran who served in the United States Army, and his mother a former teacher and librarian. Cranley was raised in the Price Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati. He attended St. William's Primary School and graduated from St. Xavier High School in 1992. He graduated from John Carroll University magna cum laude in Philosophy and Political Science and served twice as student body president. He earned his JD (juris doctorate) from Harvard Law School and a Master of Theological Studies from the Harvard Divinity School. He taught two undergraduate legal and philosophy courses at Harvard College while attending graduate school. During his second and third years at Harvard Law School, he worked as a student attorney for people who could not afford legal counsel. In his third year of law school, he was elected First Class Marshal and delivered the Harvard Law School graduation speech on behalf of his class.

Cranley served on city council from 2000-09. In 2003, he led the push to create Tax Increment Finance districts in Cincinnati. Cranley served on the following committees: Arts, Culture, Tourism & Marketing; Economic Development; Law and Public Safety; and the Transportation & Infrastructure sub-committee. Cranley resigned from City Council in 2009 after seeking advice from the Ohio Ethics Commission.

Cranley worked to restore the historic Incline District of East Price Hill. He developed a $5 million project which consists of condominiums and a restaurant.

In 2000 and 2006, Cranley lost in Ohio's 1st congressional district race to incumbent Steve Chabot, with 45% of the vote in 2000, and 48% of the vote in 2006.

Cranley won the September 2013 primary election for mayor of Cincinnati, defeating Roxanne Qualls in the November 2013 mayoral election. He was sworn in on December 1, 2013.

Mayor Cranley serves on the boards of the Freestore Foodbank, Mercy Hospital Foundation, and the Jesuit Spiritual Center. Cranley was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.

Mayor of St. Paul; Minnesota

Christopher B. "Chris" Coleman (born September 1, 1961) is a Minnesota

politician and the mayor of St. Paul. He defeated incumbent mayor Randy Kelly in 2005 and took office on January 3, 2006.

Coleman ran in the 2005 St. Paul mayoral election, challenging the DFL incumbent, Randy Kelly. Kelly had alienated supporters with his endorsement of George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election, and national Democratic figures endorsed Coleman. Wesley Clark, John Kerry, and Bill Richardson visited St. Paul to campaign for Coleman, while Hillary Clinton and John Edwards actively supported him. Coleman defeated Kelly in the general election, 69% to 31%.

Shortly after taking office, Coleman signed a city ordinance banning tobacco smoking in all bars and restaurants within city limits. The ban had long been opposed by former mayor Kelly.

Coleman is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino.

Coleman worked with then Minneapolis mayor R. T. Rybak in bids to host a national party convention. St. Paul was selected as the site of the 2008 Republican National Convention.

In 2009, Coleman was elected to a second term. He again received 69% of the general election vote, while his Republican opponent, Eva Ng, received 31%. Coleman successfully sought a third term in 2013, defeating three challengers with 78% of the vote.

Coleman also serves as President of the National League of Cities, with a term expiring at the end of 2014.

In 2009, Coleman contemplated a bid for the DFL nomination for Governor of Minnesota in the 2010 election but withdrew from the race before formally announcing a bid.

Chris Coleman was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as the son of Bridget Finnegan and Nicholas Coleman, Sr., who served as state senate majority leader from 1973 to 1981. Coleman attended Cretin High School in St. Paul. His brother Nick Coleman was a columnist for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and their stepmother, Deborah Howell, was an editor for the Minneapolis Star and the St. Paul Pioneer Press and an ombudsman for The Washington Post. He is of no relation to former mayor and U.S. Senator Norm Coleman.

Coleman attended the University of Minnesota as both an undergraduate and law student. He then worked for eight years in Hennepin County as a public defender and prosecutor. Proposals to build a metal shredder along the Mississippi River in Saint Paul inspired his first run for the Saint Paul City Council. Coleman represented Saint Paul's Ward 2 from 1997 to 2003. While on the city council he was also an investment management consultant specializing in nonprofit organizations and endowments for RBC Dain Rauscher. He was also president of United Family Practice Medical Center.

Coleman unsuccessfully sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) nomination for the United States House of Representatives seat in Minnesota's 4th congressional district in 2000. Betty McCollum won both the nomination and the seat.

Mayor of Toledo; Ohio

Paula Hicks-Hudson (born c. 1951) is the Mayor of Toledo, Ohio.

Hicks-Hudson graduated from Spelman College, Colorado State University, and University of Iowa College of Law.

She was admitted in the Ohio State Bar in 1982 practiced law specializing in business and education Law, as well as Social Security and Working Disability before entering public office.

Hicks-Hudson was appointed to the Toledo City Council in 2011, representing the 4th district, after Michael Ashford vacated the seat when he was elected to the Ohio General Assembly. She ran in the special election in May 2011, and again in the general election in November 2011, winning both to retain her seat.In 2013, her council colleagues voted for her to replace council President Joe McNamara when he resigned to run for mayor.

While serving as Toledo city council president, she was sworn in as acting mayor after her predecessor Mike Collins suffered from cardiac arrest. She served in this office for several days until Collins died, at which point she ascended to the office of mayor. Hicks-Hudson becomes only the second woman to lead the city of Toledo. (The first was Republican Donna Owens, who was mayor from 1983 to 1989.) She also becomes the first African American woman to serve as mayor.Toledo will hold a special election in November 2015 to fill the seat for the rest of the term. On March 18, 2015 Hicks-Hudson announced her candidacy for the November 2015 mayoral election.

Hicks-Hudson won election to a full term on November 3, 2015.

Mayor of Newark; New Jersey

Cory Anthony Booker (born April 27, 1969) is an American politician and the junior United States Senator from New Jersey, in office since 2013. Previously he served as mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013.

He attended Stanford University, where he played college football and received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Arts in sociology, before earning a Rhodes Scholarship to attend the University of Oxford. Upon returning home, he received his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.

Booker began his political career as a Newark city councilor from 1998 to 2002. He ran for mayor in 2002, but lost to incumbent Sharpe James; he ran again in 2006 and won against deputy mayor Ronald Rice. During his tenure as mayor, Booker's priorities were reducing crime and encouraging economic development projects. He gained a national reputation for his personal involvement in public service, particularly through his use of social media tools such as Twitter to connect with constituents.

Considered one of the most prominent Democrats in New Jersey, he became a candidate for the United States Senate in the 2013 special election to succeed Frank Lautenberg, who died in office. He won the Senate Democratic primary on August 13, 2013, and then won the general election against Steve Lonegan on October 16, 2013, becoming the first black U.S. Senator from New Jersey. Booker subsequently won the next regular election for the Senate seat against Jeff Bell in 2014. In February 2016, The New York Times identified him as a potential Supreme Court nominee to replace Justice Antonin Scalia.

On October 10, 2010, Booker established Let's Move! Newark as part of First Lady Michelle Obama's national Let's Move! initiative against childhood obesity. In October 2011 he expanded the program to include Let’s Move! Newark: Our Power, a four-month fitness challenge for Newark public school students run by public health advocate Jeff Halevy.

Booker gained national attention when, on December 28, 2010, a constituent used Twitter to ask him to send someone to her father's house to shovel his driveway because her elderly father was going to attempt to do it himself. Booker responded by tweeting, "I will do it myself; where does he live?" Other people volunteered, including one person who offered his help on Twitter, and 20 minutes later Booker and some volunteers showed up and shoveled the man's driveway. On April 12, 2012, Booker saved a woman from a house fire, suffering smoke inhalation and second-degree burns on his hands in the process. Newark Fire Chief John Centanni said that Booker's actions possibly saved the woman's life. After Hurricane Sandy destroyed much of the shoreline areas of New Jersey and New York in late October 2012, Booker invited Newarkers without power to eat and sleep in his home. In February 2013, responding to a Twitter post, Booker helped a nervous constituent propose to his girlfriend. Booker rescued a dog from freezing temperatures in January 2013 and another dog that had been abandoned in a cage in July 2013.


On November 20, 2012, a melee occurred at a Newark City Council meeting attended by Booker. The nine-seat council was to vote on the successor to the seat vacated by newly elected U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr. Booker's opponents on the council, including Ras Baraka, sought to appoint John Sharpe James, son of the former mayor, while Booker and his supporters favored Shanique Speight. Booker attended the meeting to deal with the eventuality of the lack of a quorum or a tie vote, in which state law would allow him to cast a deciding vote. After Baraka was refused an opportunity to address the council by acting Council President Anibal Ramos, Jr., Baraka and two other council members walked away in protest. Booker cast the deciding vote for Speight. Supporters of James stormed the stage and were held back by riot police, who eventually used pepper spray on some members of the crowd. Baraka later blamed Booker for inciting the disturbance, while Booker refused comment to the media after the vote.

On October 31, 2013, Booker was sworn into the Senate.

In November 2013, Booker co-sponsored and voted for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.[108] In December 2013, he was one of the original cosponsors of Bob Menéndez's Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2013, which would toughen sanctions against Iran. He also voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. In January 2014, he cosponsored the Respect for Marriage Act. In February 2014, Booker voted against the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013

Booker has pledged to meet with each of his Republican colleagues in the Senate in order to find common ground. In March, he was spotted having dinner with Senator Ted Cruz in Washington.


Booker has faced criticism on the left. Salon called him an avatar of the wealthy elite, a camera hog, and a political cipher.

Mayor of Greensboro; North Carolina

Nancy Vaughan is the mayor of Greensboro, North Carolina. She was elected

on November 5, 2013, with 59% of the vote. Vaughan was sworn in on December 3, 2013. She was re-elected on November 3, 2015, defeating opponent Devin King with approximately 88% of the vote.

The City of Greensboro has something for everyone. Our award-winning parks and recreation areas, historic buildings, national landmarks, cultural offerings, and diverse, friendly residents make Greensboro a great place to call home. With the sophistication of an urban center and the charm of a small town, Greensboro provides the perfect balance of lifestyles for those who live, work, and play here.

Mayor - Nancy Vaughan

City address: PO Box 3136, Greensboro, NC 27402-3136
City phone: 336-373-2396
City fax: 336-574-4003
E-mail - Contact Us

Mayor of Plano; Texas

Harry LaRosiliere (born May 6, 1962) is the 39th mayor of Plano, Texas. He was elected in 2013.

He was born in Haiti and grew up in Harlem. In New York City, he attended Corpus Christi Catholic School, Cardinal Hayes High School and graduated from the City College of New York in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology.

His interest in civil service began when he lived in New York and followed Mayor David Dinkins. He moved to Texas in 1994 and became a financial advisor. He served two terms on the Plano City Council from 2005 to 2011, and was the former planning and zoning commissioner. In the election, he went up against Fred Moses, the Collin County Republican Party Chairman.

He is married to Tracy LaRosiliere, née Clark. They have two daughters, Brianna and Maya.

Mayor of Henderson; Nevada

Andy Hafen is the mayor of Henderson, Nevada. He was first elected in 2009

and was re-elected 2013. Before becoming mayor, he was a member of the Henderson City Council from 1987-2009.

Hafen was born in Boulder City, Nevada. He is a graduate of Basic High School in Henderon. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His professional experience includes working for the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of Hafen's political career.

2009-Present: Mayor of Henderson
1987-2009: Henderson City Council, Ward 2
Elections

Mayor of Lincoln; Nebraska

Chris Beutler (born November 14, 1944) is the 51st and current Mayor of

Lincoln, Nebraska, serving since 2007. He previously served in the Nebraska Legislature from 1979 to 1986 and from 1991 to 2006.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Beutler graduated from Omaha Benson High School in 1962, Yale University in 1966, and University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Law in 1973. He was a U.S. Peace Corps teacher in Turkey from 1966 to 1967 and 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971. He is married to Judy Beutler and they have five children, daughters Lori, Alexa, Erica, Mikahla, and son Sam, as well as seven grandchildren.

Beutler announced his candidacy for mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska on September 15, 2006, after the incumbent mayor Coleen Seng, a fellow Democrat, chose not to seek re-election. He focused on a campaign theme of establishing Lincoln as a great city by promoting safety and security, an exceptional economy, and a "unique sense of place."

His opponents in the primary held on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, were Nebraska Party candidate Mike Deal, Republican city councilman Ken Svoboda and Independent Roger Yant. The results after 191 precincts reporting, former state senator Beutler walked away with 48 percent of the votes, compared to Republican City Councilman Ken Svoboda’s 35 percent. They were trailed by independent candidate Roger Yant with 14 percent, and Nebraska Party candidate Mike Deal at 3 percent. In the general election on May 1, Beutler defeated Svoboda by 845 votes, 51%-49%. He was inaugurated for his first term on May 14, 2007.

He ran for re-election in 2011 and was opposed by Republican businesswoman Tammy Buffington. In the April 5 primary election, Beutler received 66 percent of the votes, compared to Buffington's 33 percent. In the May 3 general election, Beutler defeated Buffington 64.68%-35.01%.

Beutler announced his candidacy for a third term on January 13, 2015. His opponents for the April 7 primary election were Republican Lancaster County Treasurer Andy Stebbing and Independent Rene Solc. The results from Lincoln's 172 precincts gave Beutler 52.90 percent of the votes, compared to Stebbing's 42.78 percent and Solc's 3.21 percent. In the May 5 general election, Beutler defeated Stebbing 52.92%-46.96%, becoming the first mayor in Lincoln's history to be elected to a third term.

Mayor of Buffalo; New York

Byron William Brown II (born September 24, 1958) is the 62nd and current

mayor of Buffalo, New York, elected on November 8, 2005 and is the city's first African-American mayor. He previously served Western New York as a member of the New York State Senate and Buffalo Common Council. He was the first African-American politician elected to the New York State Senate to represent a district outside New York City and the first member of any minority race to represent a majority white New York State Senate district.

Brown was born and raised in Queens, New York. He rose to elective office after serving in a variety of political roles. He began his political career performing as an aide to local representatives in several legislative bodies (Buffalo Common Council, Erie County Legislature and New York State Assembly) and later getting involved in a regional political organization. After several roles as a legislative aide, he was appointed to the Erie County cabinet-level Director of Equal Employment Opportunity post.

As both a New York State Senator and Buffalo Mayor, he has been closely involved in the development of the three Seneca Nation casinos that have been planned and built in Western New York since 2002. As someone born and raised downstate who went on to become an upstate political servant, he has been active on the statewide political front. He is a close political ally of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. He has also been active with the National Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition in efforts to prevent gun-related crime. His plan to revitalize Buffalo by demolishing its abundant vacant buildings has drawn opposition from historic preservationists, but he has made the development of the Buffalo waterfront a priority.

On June 13, 2008, upon the death of NBC News Washington Bureau Chief and Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert, who was a proud Buffalo native, Brown ordered that all flags on city property be lowered to half-staff in order to honor Russert's memory.[66] Brown called Russert one of Buffalo's finest ambassadors, and his decision to lower the flags in honor of Russert, a civilian who never held elected office, was an unusual gesture that was described as breathtaking on Hardball with Chris Matthews by Tom Brokaw. He was joined by several other officials in recognizing Russert. Chief among those was United States President George W. Bush who signed a bill that named a stretch of U.S. Route 20A that passes in front of Ralph Wilson Stadium (home stadium of the Buffalo Bills) Timothy J. Russert Highway.

In a public relations controversy, Brown got caught in a fight against the movement to replace traditional lawns with front yard gardens. His office had issued an edict that a resident remove her landscape renovations. However, an e-mail campaign in defense of the resident caused the mayor to rethink his stance.

Byron Brown is married to the former Michelle Austin and they have a son, Byron III. who is referred to as Byron, Jr. by some accounts. Brown III enjoys basketball and has attended high-level youth basketball camps. He played for City Honors School. On the national level, he was an unheralded point guard in the 2008 high school graduating class, and he went on to attend Queen City Prep in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Brown family attends St. John Baptist Church. While mayor, Brown has performed at least one wedding ceremony at the church. Byron Brown is a chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a past President of the Buffalo State College Alumni Association Board, and at the time of his mayoral inauguration he sat on the Board of the Boy Scout Council of Western New York and the Community Action Organization of Erie County. Brown collects tropical fish and maintains an aquarium in his Buffalo Mayor's office.His parents divorced and at the beginning of his mayoral tenure, his mother was living in Buffalo. He also is a member of the Erie County Democratic Committee. He was a delegate to the 1992, 2000 and 2004 Democratic National Conventions.

On Saturday February 24, 2007 at about 6:55 a.m., Brown's Chevrolet Equinox was stolen from an on-street parking location by someone with key access and crashed into three parked vehicles before being abandoned a few blocks from the family home. Brown had driven his son to play in a basketball tournament in Jamestown, New York on Friday February 23. They returned home at approximately 10:30 p.m. from the tournament. In interviews at the end of March 2007, Brown claimed that all members of his family with known key access had alibis. At the time Brown III possessed a learner's permit. Canisius College security cameras recorded parts of the accident, including the driver leaving the scene of multiple accidents. In April a second video recording with more fluid movement was revealed in contrast to the original recording of 36 frames per minute. In a news conference Brown announced that Byron Brown III took the senior Brown's car without permission and drove about the area near his house and Canisius College campus. Brown III admitted to the damage and was charged with driving without a driver's license and leaving the scenes of multiple accidents. Brown III was scheduled to appear on April 16, 2007 in Buffalo City Court on the charges. He pleaded guilty to unlicensed driving and leaving the scene of an accident. In 2010, his son was charged with petit larceny for leaving a store with goods that were not paid for. Byron Jr. was spared a criminal conviction when a judge granted him a delayed dismissal on shoplifting charges, as recommended by prosecutors. Buffalo City Judge David M. Manz warned him and Xavier Jemison that they have to complete a four-hour shoplifting class and stay out of trouble for the next six months. He granted each an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, meaning their petit larceny charges will be dismissed if they comply with his orders.

Mayor of Jersey ; New Jersey

Steven Michael Fulop (born February 28, 1977) is the 49th and current Mayor

of Jersey City, New Jersey. A Democrat, he was formerly the Councilman for Jersey City's Ward E. On May 14, 2013, Fulop defeated incumbent mayor Jerramiah Healy. NJ Biz and PolitickerNJ have subsequently ranked him as #20 of the top 100 influential office holders in New Jersey,[4] and in 2015 he was ranked #1 on The Hudson Reporter's annual Power List of the 50 most powerful political figures in Hudson County.

Fulop assumed the office of Mayor on July 1, 2013. He is widely considered likely to run for Governor in 2017.

Fulop (Fülöp) was born to a Jewish family in Edison, New Jersey, the son of emigrants from Romania. His father owned a delicatessen in Newark, New Jersey, where Fulop often worked, and his mother, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, worked in an immigration services office helping others gain citizenship.

Fulop graduated from Binghamton University in 1999, spending time abroad studying at Oxford University in England. In 2006 he completed both his Masters in Business Administration at the New York University Stern School of Business and his Masters in Public Administration at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.,

Within his first 100 days in office, Fulop introduced and passed legislation that merged the Police and Fire Departments as well as the Office of Emergency Management into one central department – the Department of Public Safety. This consolidation is projected to create significant savings for Jersey City by eliminating duplicative administrative costs. Fulop's newly created department was also charged with increasing diversity in both the police and fire department by revising its recruitment and retention efforts, emphasizing that members on the force should be representative of the city they serve. Mayor Fulop also increased the size of the police force from 778 uniformed officers upon assuming office to a projected 840 by June 2014.

In an effort to provide transparent and accessible government for the residents of Jersey City, Fulop established (through Executive Order) Jersey City’s first Citizen Public Safety Advisory Review Board. This board is charged with making programmatic, legislative, and training recommendations to improve public safety overall.Acknowledging the need for local government to be more responsive to constituent’s needs, Fulop overhauled the division of government responsible for handling requests made by citizens, formerly called the "Mayor’s Action Bureau", into the "Residents Response Center", adding more representatives and expanding the hours. Fulop's administration expanded the use of technology and social media for easier access and connectivity to constituent services.

Fulop initiated plans to invest nearly $6 million in city parks in 2014 alone, which will triple the annual number of parks projects by renovating 13 parks throughout Jersey City and will provide funding for the accelerated construction of Berry Lane Park, an ambitious project that will ultimately transform more than 17 acres of property in to a recreational amenity in the heart of the Bergen-Lafayette community.

Mayor of Chula Vista; California

Mary Salas is a California politician from Chula Vista, California. She is a

former California Assembly member who represented the 79th Assembly District from 2006 to 2010. She ran for the California State Senate in 2010 but lost. In 2012 she was elected to the Chula Vista City Council, a position she previously held from 1996 to 2004. She was elected Mayor of the city of Chula Vista in 2014.

Salas was elected to the California State Assembly in 2006, defeating Jean Roesch. She represented the 79th district which includes the communities of National City, Coronado, Imperial Beach and parts of Chula Vista and San Diego. Salas was appointed Chair of the Committee on Veterans Affairs in 2007. She also served on the following standing committees: Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy; Water, Parks and Wildlife; and the Committee on Health. She was re-elected in 2008. In 2010 she campaigned for California State Senate but lost narrowly to Juan Vargas.

The Sacramento Bee reported in 2011 that Salas had multiple accidents in her state-issued vehicle during her time in the Assembly, resulting in four claims costing taxpayers nearly $28,000.

Salas was born in 1948 in Chula Vista. She married Sal Salas in 1967 at the age of 19 and became a stay-at-home mom. After 17 years she and her husband divorced, though they remained close. At the age of 37, Salas enrolled in San Diego State on her way to earning a bachelor degree in social work. In college, she became involved with MANA de San Diego, a women's organization that mentors young Latinas, which led her into city politics.

In 2005, on what would have been their 38th wedding anniversary, Mary and Sal married each other for the second time.They have two daughters and three grandchildren.

Mayor of Orlando; Florida

John Hugh "Buddy" Dyer (born August 7, 1958) is the 32nd and current mayor

of Orlando, Florida, first elected in 2003. He is a member of the Florida Democratic Party. Previously he represented Orlando in the Florida State Senate for ten years, including three years when he was the Senate Democratic leader.

Mayor Dyer and his wife Karen were married in 1989. They have two sons: Trey, who graduated from American University in 2012 and Drew, who attends Lake Highland Preparatory School.
The Orlando Sentinel named Dyer the "The most powerful person in Central Florida" for 2008.

Dyer was elected the 32nd mayor of Orlando on February 25, 2003, in a special election after the previous mayor, Glenda Hood, was appointed Florida's Secretary of State. He was re-elected in 2004 in a regular election, narrowly avoiding a runoff with challenger Ken Mulvaney. He won re-election again on January 29, 2008, receiving 61% of the vote over challenger Mulvaney. Buddy Dyer was once again re-elected mayor in November 2015 with 62.5% of the vote for his fourth full term in office. 

In his years as mayor of Orlando, Buddy Dyer claims progress in realizing his vision for Orlando as a "world-class city." According to his re-election campaign materials, he led Orlando out of a financial crisis and made public safety a top priority. He attracted state-of-the-art health care facilities and created a regional medical area at Lake Nona, and has worked to improve all of the city's neighborhoods. During his term, Orlando has had three consecutive years of employment growth and a 2.2 percent decline in unemployment.
Dyer advocated a new performing arts center for Orlando and a new arena for the Orlando Magic. He worked with Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty to get approval for using US$1.1 billion of the county's Tourist Development Tax monies, collected as a surcharge on hotel rooms, to fund construction of a new arena, a new performing arts center and large-scale renovations of the Citrus Bowl. The measure received final approvals on both the city and county levels in August 2007. Later that month, local hotelier Harris Rosen launched a drive to get initiatives on the ballot to allow citizens to vote on whether they want public monies spent on these projects.

Mayor Dyer has attracted criticism from homeless advocates due to his support for an Orlando ordinance (passed in July 2006) that requires permits for "large group feedings" in downtown parks. The group Orlando Food Not Bombs sued Dyer and the city of Orlando over the ordinance in federal court. The court ruled in September 2008 that the ordinance was unconstitutional because it violated the group's First Amendment rights, and the city has appealed this ruling to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.[citation needed] Many critics of Dyer's support of the ban on "large group feedings" claim Dyer backs the ban to appease the wealthy residents of the Lake Eola neighborhood.

Mayor of St. Petersburg; Florida

Rick Kriseman (born August 2, 1962) is a Democratic politician who currently serves as the Mayor of St. Petersburg, Florida. Prior to his election as Mayor, he served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, and represented the 53rd District from 2006 to 2012.

Kriseman was born in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to the state of Florida in 1972, where he attended Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport. He then matriculated to the University of Florida, graduating with a bachelor's degree in broadcasting in 1984. Following graduation, Kriseman attended the Stetson University College of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1987. He was active in local politics, serving as a charter member of the Lake Pasadena Neighborhood Association and working as State Representative Lars Hafner's campaign manager.

After retiring from the legislature, Kriseman announced in 2013 that he would challenge incumbent Mayor Bill Foster in that year's mayoral election, citing Foster's lack of leadership, and criticizing him for his handling of the Tampa Bay Rays' desire to leave Tropicana Field and of the St. Petersburg Pier. Former City Councilwoman and two-time mayoral candidate Kathleen Ford, along with minor candidates Anthony Cates and Paul Congemi also joined Kriseman to challenge Foster. Kriseman and Ford attacked Foster for changing his position on a number of issues, while Kriseman was attacked by Ford for not passing any legislation while in the legislature, who questioned whether Kriseman would be partisan as mayor. The Tampa Bay Times, criticizing Foster's "lack of vision and unsure footing," strongly endorsed Kriseman, citing his "stabilizing influence" on the City Council and his focus on "environmental efforts and public education" in the legislature. The Times praised the "new energy" that Kriseman would bring to the mayor's office in negotiating with the Rays, redeveloping the Pier, and improving city services. The Tampa Tribune, meanwhile, though asserting that Foster's term consisted of "four bumpy years," and praising Kriseman for his "command of the issues, which he presents with enthusiasm and energy," endorsed Foster, observing that he presided over an "economic rebirth." In the primary, Foster narrowly edged out Kriseman to place first, though no candidate received a majority. Foster won 41% of the vote to Kriseman's 39% and Ford's 19%, and Foster and Kriseman advanced to the general election. Once again, the Times endorsed Kriseman and the Tribune endorsed Foster, while United States Senator Bill Nelson, former Governor Charlie Crist, and six out of eight City Councilmembers endorsed Kriseman.Despite the closeness of the campaign, Kriseman ultimately upset Foster by a fairly solid margin, winning 56% of the vote to Foster's 44%.

In December 2015, Kriseman received media attention after he tweeted about "barring" Donald Trump from entering St. Petersburg, which he did in response to Trump’s earlier controversial comment on banning all Muslims from entering the US at the wake of deadly terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California.

Mayor of Norfolk; Virginia

Paul David Fraim (born October 26, 1949) is an American politician and

lawyer. A Democrat, he has been the mayor of Norfolk, a nonpartisan office, since 1994.

He is a member of the board of directors of the Hampton Roads Partnership, and the Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance. He has recently been re-elected to a two-year term as Chair of Hampton Roads Mayors and Chairs Caucus, having previously served as chairman from July 1996 through August 1997. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Norfolk Division, the Kiwanis Club of Ocean View, the Norfolk Sports Club, and the Navy League. He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition, a group with a stated goal of "making the public safer by getting illegal guns off the streets." The Coalition is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

He has been a member of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission since 1990 and is currently serving as Vice Chairman. He has also been a commissioner of the Hampton Roads Sports Authority. He is a member of the board of directors of the Greater Norfolk Corporation. He is former Chairman of the Norfolk Highway Safety Commission. He is presently chair of the USS Wisconsin Foundation and is a member of the Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation.

Fraim is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association. He is a member of and has served on the Executive Committee of the Virginia Bar Association, and he is also a fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation.

Fraim was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He graduated from Norfolk Catholic High School. He then went on to the Virginia Military Institute, where he was co-captain of the VMI Keydets football team. He received a B.A. degree there, followed by a M.Ed. from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law. He coached football at both Virginia and Richmond.

He began practicing law in Norfolk in 1977. For a number of years, he was a law partner of Virginia House of Delegates member George Heilig. After Heilig's death, he left that practice and formed a new law firm, Fraim and Fiorella P.C.

He married Elizabeth Peer. They have four children, Annie, Katie, Richard and David.

Fraim served as chairman of the Norfolk Electoral Board.

Fraim was elected to the Norfolk City Council in 1986, at a time when the council members were all elected at large. A 1991 Federal court ruling forced Norfolk to adopt a ward system, after which Fraim represented Ward 2 on the west side of the city. When the new council met for the first time on July 1, 1994, it chose Fraim as mayor.

In 2006, Norfolk switched to a directly elected mayor system. Fraim defeated Daniel Montague 78% to 22%.

He was reelected as Mayor in May, 2014, carrying 71% of the vote.

He did not seek reelection in 2016, and will be succeeded as Mayor by Kenny Alexander.