7 August 2006

AMSTERDAM — Mayor Job Cohen of Amsterdam has been nominated for the 'World Mayor Award 2006'.

He faces stiff competition from 15 colleagues from Europe, 10 from North America, six from South America, four from Africa and two from Australia. The City Mayors organisation in London said the result will be announced on 6 December.

The World Mayor project is in its third year. The public is being asked to vote for mayors who "have the vision, passion and skills to make their cities amazing places to live in, work in and visit." The aim of the competition is to show "what outstanding mayors can achieve and raise their profiles," City Mayors said.

Last year's competition was won by the Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis. She was appointed to the job in 2003 and confounded critics who said the Greek capital would not be ready to host the Olympic Games the following year.

People from all over the world were over the last six months allowed to nominate their favourite mayor. A total of 53,000 people voted and 677 names were submitted. A selection committee whittled this down to 50. 

This is not the first time Cohen has received international recognition. Time Magazine named him as a 'European hero' last year for the way he calmed tensions in the city in the immediate aftermath of the murder of Theo van Gogh in 2004.

Amsterdam City Council recently nominated Cohen for a second term of office. His first seven-year term ends in 2007.  

Click here to vote for your choice of World Mayor.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2006]

Subject: Dutch news