Pampanga mayor is world’s fourth most outstanding

San Fernando City, Pampanga Mayor Oscar Samson Rodriguez is now enjoying international recognition.

He has just been ranked fourth among the world’s "most outstanding mayors" in a recently concluded internet-based competition by a London-based international organization of local chief executives from around the globe.

He joins the ranks of Athens, Greece Mayor Dora Bakoyannis who was elected World Mayor 2005; Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Mayor Hazel McCallion who ranked second; and Guatemala City Mayor Álvaro Arzú who placed third.

The search for "World Mayor" is an annual project organized by the City Mayors web publication to raise the profile of mayors worldwide as well as to honor those who have served their communities well and who have made contributions to the well-being of cities both nationally and internationally.

Each year, the most outstanding mayor is presented with the World Mayor Award — an honor that Edi Rama, Mayor of Tirana, received last year.

Between June and the end of October 2005, more than 87,000 people from across the world voted for and commented on their favorite mayors in the internet-based contest.

With a hefty 31 percent of the total votes, North America contributed the largest number of internet ballots, followed by Europe with 29 percent while the share of votes from Asian countries increased from 14 percent in 2004 to 22 percent in 2005.

The World Mayor contest became considerably more popular in Central and South America where the share of votes rose from four percent to 11 percent.

Organizers said voters from Africa contributed four percent of the total, with the remainder coming from other parts of the world including Australia and New Zealand.

In addition to click voting, participants in World Mayor 2005 contest were encouraged to comment on why they felt a particular mayor deserved to win the 2005 title since organizers emphasize that the strength of argument was as important as the number of votes cast.

Tann vom Hove, editor and publisher of the City Mayors site, noted that by stressing the importance of well-expressed comments, it was ensured that participants thought about the merits of their chosen mayors.

World Mayor said Rodriguez can rightly point to a successful career in politics before assuming his mayoral duties, and he then played a key role in transforming San Fernando from a town to a recognized city.

He won wide support from across the Philippines in addition to votes from Filipinos in North America and Europe as his supporters described him as one of the most honest politicians in the Philippines.

Rodriguez’s profile gives credit to his campaign for cityhood which commenced in 1997, two years after the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo and the subsequent Typhoon "Mameng."

Led by the town’s mayor Dr. Rey B. Aquino, the campaign achieved its goal in 2000 when Rodriguez, then a congressman, gained legislative backing for his proposal to give the town a city charter.

In the past, San Fernando has also received the country’s "Clean and Green" award for cleanest city.

Vom Hove said he and his editorial colleagues searched for mayors who had the passionate support of their communities and won respect on the national and international stage.

"When making the final decision on which mayor should be presented with the 2005 World Mayor Award, my colleagues and I evaluated all statements received in support of the finalists," he explained.

As a result, the top four mayors were named and tagged as politicians who are greatly admired by their own communities as well as recognized nationally and internationally.

"All four mayors understand that local politics must have national and international dimensions. They have shown that in order to promote successfully the interests of their own communities they must also address issues faced by other cities in their respective countries and indeed across the world," World Mayor organizers said.

The four top-placed mayors all received more than 6,000 votes, with Dora Bakoyannis winning the support of more than 7,500 voters worldwide.

The date and venue of the awarding ceremony will be announced soon and is expected to be attended by world leaders who will congratulate their mayors for being among the best.