Valeria Mancinelli, Mayor of Ancona, Italy
awarded the 2018 World Mayor Prize

World Mayor Commendations for the Mayors of
Doncaster (UK), Rennes (France), Saarbrücken (Germany)
and Zamboanga City (Philippines)
By Tann vom Hove, Brian Baker, Matteo Dalle Fratte, Andrew Stevens, Mayraj Fahim, Jacek Bruchal, Jonas Schorr, Kevin Visdeloup



12 February 2019: The 2018 World Mayor Project was dedicated to women in local government. During the course of the year, World Mayor has shown what outstanding female mayors accomplish all over the world. Their achievements will encourage more women to contemplate a career in local government and inspire them to run for political office. By their determination to succeed and to serve their communities, the female mayors who were nominated for the long- and shortlists as well as those selected for the World Mayor Honours List are role models for young women and, indeed, men everywhere.

ON THIS PAGE: The 2018 World Mayor Prize
||| The 2018 World Mayor Commendations ||| World Mayor 2018: Mayors of Distinction |||



FRONT PAGE
About World Mayor
City Mayors Foundation

Email






WORLD MAYOR 2018
• Results 2018
• Project 2018
• Shortlist 2018
• Longlist 2018
• Raison d'être
• World Mayor history
• World Mayor Prize
• Code of Ethics

• Criteria
• Meet the Press

INTERVIEWS WITH
• Mayor of Ancona
• Mayor of Doncaster
• Mayor of Rennes
• Mayor of Zamboanga


ESSAYS BY
• Mayor of Ancona
• Mayor of Cologne
• Mayor of Doncaster
• Mayor of Fort Worth
• Mayor of Lille
• Mayor of Paris
• Mayor of Rennes
• Mayor of Saarbrücken
• Mayor of Trbovlje
• Mayor of Tunis
• Mayor of Zamboanga

TESTIMONIALS
• Mayor of Alphen / Rijn
• Mayor of Ancona
• Mayor of Baden-Baden
• Mayor of Calais
• Mayor of Chemnitz
• Mayor of Cologne
• Mayor of Cozumel
• Mayor of Doncaster
• Mayor of Fort Worth
• Mayor of Grand Rapids
• Mayor of Lille
• Mayor of Lodz
• Mayor of Molenbeek
• Mayor of Narayanganj
• Mayor of Oakland
• Mayor of Omaha
• Mayor of Paris
• Mayor of Rennes
• Mayor of Reutlingen
• Mayor of Saarbrücken
• Mayor of San Juan
• Mayor of Trbovlje
• Mayor of Tunis
• Mayor of Zamboanga
• Mayor of Zurich

PROFILES OF
• Mayor of Ancona
• Mayor of Cologne
• Mayor of Doncaster
• Mayor of Fort Worth
• Mayor of Lille
• Mayor of Paris
• Mayor of Rennes
• Mayor of Saarbrücken
• Mayor of Trbovlje
• Mayor of Tunis
• Mayor of Zamboanga



WORLD MAYOR 2016

WORLD MAYOR 2014

WORLD MAYOR 2012

WORLD MAYOR 2010

WORLD MAYOR 2008

WORLD MAYOR 2006

WORLD MAYOR 2005

WORLD MAYOR 2004



THE 2018 WORLD MAYOR PRIZE

Valeria Mancinelli,
Mayor of Ancona, Italy

Winner of the 2018 World Mayor Prize
Valeria Mancinelli, Mayor of Ancona, Italy, has been awarded the 2018 World Mayor Prize. Under her leadership, Ancona, the capital of the March region on the Adriatic coast, has enjoyed strong economic growth. When Mayor Mancinelli took office in 2013, the all important shipbuilding sector was facing enormous difficulties, which badly affected the many small businesses in the city. The newly elected Mayor was determined to revive the industry, that can trace its history back to Roman times. Valeria Mancinelli set off by creating a cross-city partnership involving the public and private sectors as well as the working population. From the outset, Mayor Mancinelli has kept the public fully informed about the challenges ahead, her goals as well as the successes achieved and difficulties encountered. As a mayoral candidate, Valeria Mancinelli made no exaggerated promises. Instead she pledged an economic recovery consisting of small steps. During the Mayor’s first term in office, roads were resurfaced, parks and green spaces cleaned up and the city’s numerous tourist attractions, including its famed beaches, have again won top-rated reviews. And the shipbuilding sector, once thought moribund, has seen a revival. Each step has made Ancona a little bit more liveable, each step has increased people’s confidence in the future of the city. PROFILE | INTERVIEW | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS | LETTER


THE 2018 WORLD MAYOR COMMENDATIONS
The 2018 World Mayor Commendations have been conferred on (in alphabetical order of cities): Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster (UK); Nathalie Appéré, Mayor of Rennes (France); Charlotte Britz, Mayor of Saarbrücken (Germany) and Beng Climaco, Mayor of Zamboanga City (Philippines).

Ros Jones
Mayor of Doncaster, UK

Recipient of the World Mayor Commendation in recognition for her services to local government
Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones has been credited with reviving a town in decline. When she was elected in 2013, the running of the local authority was still overseen by the UK government after in 2010, an auditors report described the municipality and the then mayor as dysfunctional. Having defeated the incumbent mayor by less than 700 votes, Mayor Jones did not have the benefit of a honeymoon period. Her immediate task was to counter the town’s slide into economic and spiritual depression. Doncaster Mayor Jones had led her town back from one of its most difficult periods in history. Economic growth has returned and businesses confidence has resulted in record employment levels. The Mayor has a vision for a new economic, social and cultural future for Doncaster. She foresees the town to become a centre for railway technology, a logistics hub and home to film and TV production. It has already been decided that one of Britain’s two National Colleges of High-Speed Rail will be located in the town. Mayor Jones graciously acknowledges that the improvements in Doncaster would not have possible without the help of the town’s Chief Executive, Jo Miller. In 2017, Mayor Jones was re-elected with a majority of more than 19,000. PROFILE | INTERVIEW | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS


Nathalie Appéré
Mayor of Rennes, France

Recipient of the World Mayor Commendation in recognition for her commitment to strengthen civic harmony and prosperity in the City of Rennes
Since Nathalie Appéré was elected Mayor of Rennes in 2014, the city has continued to grow. Indeed, during the past 10 years, the population of Rennes has increased by some 12 per cent. The population growth has been stimulated by an expanding business sector, a high-speed rail service to Paris and the success of the city’s universities. Rennes is consistently named as one of the most liveable cities in France. But a growing population also meant an increased demand for housing, particularly affordable homes. Mayor Appéré has strengthened and expanded the ‘Rennes Housing Model’, which stipulates that for every 100 homes built, 35 must be affordable, while another 25 must be social housing. The remaining 40 homes can be sold at market prices. The Mayor is also introducing a single rent structure for social housing to prevent the creation of low-rent districts. Under Mayor Appéré’s leadership, the city also introduced a participatory budget process, which allows residents to submit projects for consideration. PROFILE | INTERVIEW | ESSAY| TESTIMONIALS


Charlotte Britz,
Mayor of Saarbrücken, Germany

Recipient of the World Mayor Commendation in recognition for her services to Franco-German co-operation and friendship
It was a proud moment for Saarbrücken’s Mayor Charlotte Britz when, in January 2019 in Aachen (Germany), French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel renewed the Franco-German friendship treaty. Throughout her many years in office, Mayor Britz has worked relentlessly to strengthen the co-operation between the border regions of France and Germany. She is currently the President of the Saar-Moselle Euro District, which she was instrumental in founding in 2010. When Charlotte Britz was elected to the post she said: “We must think European to have a bright future.” The Mayor is particularly keen on involving young people on both sides of the border and is promoting bi-lingual teaching in French and German schools. PROFILE | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS


Beng Climaco,
Mayor of Zamboanga City, Philippines

Recipient of the World Mayor Commendation for her commitment to offer Zamboanga City
harmony, security and prosperity
Shortly after being elected in 2013, Beng Climaco was confronted with an armed uprising by Islamic rebels. Parts of Zamboanga City were under siege for 19 days. By the time government forces had defeated the rebels, 183 people had died and more than 120,000 residents were displaced. During her first term in office Mayor Climaco made it her priority for the victims of the attack to receive justice and compensation. She has also been determined to heal any divisions between the city’s Christian and Muslim communities. The Inter-Religious Dialogue Council, she convened, has been successful in promoting peace. In a city, which was often perceived as violent, there have been no bombing or kidnapping incidents since 2016. In 2017, Mayor Climaco’s administration won the award for the most improved local government. PROFILE | INTERVIEW | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS


WORLD MAYOR 2018: MAYORS OF DISTINCTION
The 2018 World Mayor title Mayor of Distinction was given to (in alphabetical order of cities):
Henriette Reker, Mayor of Cologne (Germany); Betsy Prize, Mayor of Fort Worth (USA), Martine Aubry, Mayor of Lille (France); Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris (France); Jasna Gabric, Mayor of Trbovlje (Slovenia); Souad Abderrahim, Mayor of Tunis (Tunesia).

Henriette Reker
Mayor of Cologne, Germany

Mayor of Distinction
Extract from her World Mayor essay:
Over one million people live in Cologne today. They are faced with numerous issues: A strong population growth as well as shifting age structures, climate change and climate protection measures, new mobility demands, digitalisation and skills for a transforming economy to name but a few. The related enormous challenges that need to be addressed are in particular the provision of adequate and affordable housing, the extension of a sustainable mobility infrastructure, the creation of equal education opportunities and access to equitable financing for all generations. This will only be successful if it is based on a strong social cohesion, a common political culture and an efficient administration. PROFILE | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS


Betsy Price
Mayor of Fort Worth, USA

Mayor of Distinction
Extract from her World Mayor essay:
One of my proudest accomplishments thus far has been to enhance the health and wellbeing of Fort Worth. The programme FitWorth, while applying to everyone, focuses on lowering child obesity. Since its inception, child obesity has dropped by six per cent in the city. As one of the few female mayors in the top 100 United States cities, I have always encouraged women to step into leadership roles, whether that be in politics, business or other community organisations. Fort Worth was founded on a pioneering spirit that is still alive and well today. PROFILE | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS


Martine Aubry
Mayor of Lille, France

Mayor of Distinction
Extract from her World Mayor essay:
I have dedicated my work to Lille since I was elected Mayor in 2001. My vision for Lille has always been based on a certain ideal of togetherness and of course, on the values of justice and solidarity.
With these values, we defend the design of a city that deliberately turns its back on urban mechanics that divide and alienate. Rejecting city designs with the rich neighbourhoods on one side and the poor neighbourhoods on the other, where the outskirts are dormitory towns and the centres museums and commercial areas, industrial zones, etc.
This is especially important for us in Lille, we are one of the few major cities in France to have kept working class groups in the heart of the city. This is a great source of pride for us. PROFILE | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS


Anne Hidalgo
Mayor of Paris, France

Mayor of Distinction
Extract from her World Mayor essay:
In Paris, we have two priorities: on the one hand, ecological transition, which has become necessary due to the climatic emergency and one that we see as an opportunity to deeply transform ourselves, find meaning once again and live better lives; while on the other hand, the development of community spirit in order to fight against inequalities – economic, social, regional. Ever since my first job, as a health and safety inspector, I have been keenly sensitive to the imbalances that weaken the social fabric.
These two challenges are closely connected. When we develop local and organic food in school cafeterias, we are making it possible for students to eat better regardless of their parents’ income. When we fight against air pollution, people with fragile health are the first to benefit. When we renovate 30,000 social accommodations in order to reduce their carbon footprint and we promise that all new buildings will be energy positive, it is the renters’ charges that are reduced. PROFILE | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS


Jasna Gabric
Mayor of Trbovlje, Slovenia

Mayor of Distinction
Extract from her World Mayor essay:
During the most prosperous decades of our mining and industrial past, our municipality became home to workers from all across former Yugoslavia. They brought their families along with them. As a result of this influx, new building complexes were built to create homes for these newcomers. However, many years later, their second and third-generation descendants still live in these blocks. Despite being born in Trbovlje, they did not always manage to integrate well and even today they speak their own language and feel marginalized in their own environment. As a mayor, I set the objective to revive also these neighbourhoods. I visit all parts of my city regularly, and whenever we select projects for implementation, we always make sure that all areas of the city are covered. Under no circumstances will I allow any divisions. PROFILE | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS


Souad Abderrahim
Mayor of Tunis, Tunisia

Mayor of Distinction
Extract from her World Mayor essay:
I intend to establish a new mode of government as a female Mayor. I am aware that I am not the only one promoting these values based on listening, dialogue, support, partnership and mutual benefits. I do not mean that there is a feminine scheme of governance! But, it is clear that we, women, are less likely to be in charge. We are therefore more visible because we are in small numbers and this situation makes us responsible towards voters. It imposes vigilance, listening, and empathy. We are in charge of the gender dimension of governance. A challenge, that we intend to meet brilliantly. But, this should not discourage us. Women must dare to be in a leadership position. In my country, they are present at all levels. They have proved their competence and they have largely deserved the rights they have won throughout the different generations. I am convinced that they are very capable today of positioning themselves as leaders and of overcoming the challenges. PROFILE | ESSAY | TESTIMONIALS