Days after letting opponents have it in trial testimony over human rights, the city’s out and proud lesbian mayor won accolades not just from local LGBTs but in a worldwide poll of constituents.
Annise Parker (photo) is not just the best mayor in the U.S. but also No. 7 in the entire world, according to the latest results from the global City Mayors Foundation. The foundation compiled votes by residents around the world to find those who stand out in public support, achievements and excellence of tributes from their citizens.
Parker was one of two American semi-finalists up for Best Mayor in the World back in December. Now she is the only mayor in the U.S. to break the Top 10. Citizens from cities across the globe e-mailed their votes with reasons why they think their mayor should win. Of course, she had us at HERO, despite that failing 'F' for Equality.
Once the submissions were collected, a World Mayor Jury made the final call and summed up Parker’s inclusion.
Annise Parker should be 2014 World Mayor because of her adept balancing of social and economic issues while making significant progress on both during her three terms as mayor of my hometown, Houston, Texas, USA. Her policies, which enabled the city to remain fiscally healthy during the worst of the recent recession, set the stage for the tremendous economic growth Houston enjoys today. Meanwhile, she champions human rights issues such as by being a pioneer — first openly-gay mayor of a major city — and a role model.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized for doing what I love for a city that I dearly love,' Parker tells CultureMap. “Being mayor of Houston is the best political job in the world. It provides the opportunity to shape the future of one of the great American cities. I am humbled that others view this work as worthy of being right up there with the accomplishments of my mayoral colleagues around the world.”
The full list of the world's Top 10 Mayors:
1. Naheed Nenshi, Calgary, Canada
2. Daniël Termont, Ghent, Belgium
3. Tri Rismaharini, Surabaya, Indonesia
4. Carlos Ocariz, Sucre, Venezuela
5. Jed Patrick Mabilog, Iloilo City, Philippines
6. Albrecht Schröter, Jena, Germany
7. Annise Parker, Houston
8. Yiannis Boutaris, Thessaloniki, Greece
9. Giusy Nicolini, Lampedusa, Italy
10. Aziz Kocaoglu, Izmir, Turkey
