Mexico City Mayor Ebrard Awarded the 2010 World Mayor Prize

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has been announced as winner of the 2010 World Mayor Prize, awarded by popular vote through the City Mayors Foundation, an international think tank on urban affairs.

"It is truly an honor to be selected as the recipient of the 2010 World Mayor Prize. I have always believed that public service is a privilege, and I humbly hope that this belief is reflected in my work each day as I serve the people of Mexico City," said Mexico Mayor Marcelo Ebrard.

The 2010 World Mayor's contest was conducted over an 18-month period, starting in the spring of 2009 and invited a worldwide audience to submit nominations of mayors that exhibited qualities that defined an outstanding city leader.  

In today's written announcement of the award, Tann vom Hove, senior editor of CityMayors.com, called Mayor Ebrard a reformer and pragmatist:

"The mayor is a liberal reformer and pragmatist who has never shied away from challenging Mexico's orthodoxy. He has championed women's and minorities rights and has become an outspoken and internationally respected advocate on environmental issues.

"Shortly after his election, the mayor outlined a 15-year 'Green Plan' (Plan Verde). The plan is designed to reduce Mexico City's overall greenhouse gas emissions by seven million metric tonnes from its inception in 2008 until 2012. Twenty years ago Mexico's capital was the world's most polluted city. Today, with a metro population of more than 20 million, it is ranked outside the top 10 cities with the worst air quality. Marcelo Ebrard has signed up to City Mayors' Code of Ethics."

More than 118,000 voters nominated a total of 840 mayors for this year's World Mayor Prize, and each of those nominations with accompanying testimonials were considered. From those entries, a board of judges at City Mayors established a shortlist of 25 finalists, which were then voted on again by the public to select the winner and two runners up.

"With more than half the world's population today living in cities for the first time in human history, the City Mayors Foundation work on behalf of metropolitan communities around the globe is essential," Ebrard said.  "I thank the City Mayors Foundation and the people who participated in the World Mayor's contest from throughout the world."

SOURCE Gobierno del Distrito Federal