Time Magazine Names Five Best Big-City Mayors

Time chooses and profiles the best among the leaders of America's most challenging cities with populations over 1/2 million.

1 minute read

April 21, 2005, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


The magazine consulted with "urban experts to choose the best among the leaders of America's most challenging cities, those with populations over half a million -- a crop that brings in six Republicans, 22 Democrats and one unaffiliated mayor... Our top performers range from Chicago's imperial Richard Daley, who after 16 years is widely viewed as the nation's top urban executive, to newcomer John Hickenlooper, the beer brewer who closed Denver's worst budget gap ever without major staff or service cuts. Since good policy invites imitation, their most successful tactics may soon be coming to a city near you."

Included on the list:

  • Richard Daley / Chicago
  • Shirley Franklin / Atlanta
  • John Hickenlooper / Denver
  • Martin O'Malley / Baltimore
  • Michael Bloomberg / New York.

    Thanks to Chris Steins

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