Time Magazine Names Best and Worst U.S. Mayors

Time magazine recently compiled a list of the best and worst mayors from cities with more than 500,000 people. The list included six Republicans, 22 Democrats and one unaffiliated mayor.

THE BEST MUNICIPAL LEADERS

Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago was listed as the best municipal leader in the nation. Following Daley was Shirley Franklin of Atlanta, John Hickenlooper of Denver, who still has 75 percent job approval ratings after 19 months on the job. Fourth was Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. New York's Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, was named the fifth best leader.

The worst three mayors were reported as Dick Murphy of San Diego, Kwame Kilpatrick of Detroit and John Street of Philadelphia.

Entire article can be found here:http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2005/04/18/Time_names_bestworst_US_mayors/UPI-33641113840982/

THE WORST MUNICIPAL LEADERS, Time Magazine's picks and other corrupt mayors:

ATLANTIC CITY - is reeling from the latest in a string of mayoral missteps. Four out of the eight most recent mayors have left office after being arrested on corruption charges. AWOL Atlantic City Mayor Robert Levy stepped down, after failing to show up at city hall for two weeks. His resignation will be effective immediately, said his lawyer.

About a year ago, Levy confessed to having gilded his credentials by falsely claiming that he served in the Green Berets. Levy served two tours in the Vietnam War.http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/10/10/2007-10-10_atlantic_city_mayor_robert_levy_resigns_.html

DETROIT — Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was charged with perjury and other offenses and got a stern lecture from the judge about the importance of telling the truth - after a trove of raunchy text messages contradicted his sworn denials of an affair with his chief aide, Christine Beatty. Beatty resigned last January.

The 37-year-old "Hip-Hop Mayor" who brought youth and vitality to the job in this struggling city of 900,000 could get up to 15 years in prison for perjury alone and would be automatically expelled from office if convicted. The charges stem from a Whistle blower case that resulted in a $8.4 million dollar settlement.

Ignoring mounting demands that he step down, Kilpatrick said: "I look forward to complete exoneration once all the facts have been brought forth. I will remain focused on moving this city forward."http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/24/detroit-mayor-kwame-kilpa_n_93066.html

NEW JERSEY - Newark: For 20 years, Mayor Sharpe James wielded immense power as mayor of New Jersey's largest city, a political boss who eventually held a dual role as a state senator. He stands accused of selling City property to his former girlfriend, Tamika Riley, at a discounted rate.

Riley lawyer Gerald Krovatin asserted that she got no special treatment because of her affair with James, a married man twice her age, and claimed she was swept up in the investigation of James only because of their "intimate" relationship. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23339701/

Riley was sentenced to 15 months in prison in July of 2008. http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8098862012664693099&postID=2362176805211753722

More New Jersey Corruption cases involving two mayors and two state legislators: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/06/nj.arrets/index.html Read the U.S. Department Of Justice charges here: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/2007releases.html

PHILIDELPHIA - Mayor John Street: During the re-election campaign against Sam Katz, the FBI uncovered a corruption scheme led by Street's friend and fund raiser Ron White, who died before going to trial. Former city treasurer Corey Kemp, a member of Street's administration, was sentenced to 10 years in jail after being found guilty on 27 corruption-related charges in May 2005.[11] Wikipedia.

SAN DIEGO - Mayor Dick Murphy announced his resignation Monday amid a widening federal investigation into the handling of the city’s deficit-riddled pension fund.

“It’s clear to me that the city needs a fresh start,” Murphy said, holding back emotion as he made the surprise announcement at City Hall while surrounded by his staff and family.

Murphy, a 62-year-old former judge who has served 4 1/2 years as mayor, said he will step down on July 15 as leader of the nation’s seventh-largest city.
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/apr/26/local/me-sdmayor26