Mick Cornett

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Mick Cornett is the current Mayor of the American city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. He also serves on notable positions including the national President of the Republican Mayors and Local Officials (RMLO), and also serves on the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He was also Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Urban Economic Affairs Committee until 2007.

Cornett, a Republican, was elected to the Oklahoma City Council on 2001. He became the Mayor of Oklahoma City on 2 March 2004. He was re-elected to a second term on 7 March 2006 by a 87.6% margin, the largest in city history.

[edit] Credits and accomplishments

Cornett is widely credited with bringing the National Basketball Association to Oklahoma City when Hurricane Katrina forced the New Orleans Hornets to relocate in 2005. Cornett's behind-the-scenes work prior to Katrina put Oklahoma City in position to become the temporary home. For two full seasons, the team played no less than 35 games annually at the Ford Center. On December 20, 2007, Cornett announced an initiative to renovate Ford Center in hopes of securing an NBA team that went to the voters of Oklahoma City on March 4, 2008. The initiative passed by a 62% to 38% margin.

Cornett has publicly declared his number one priority to be the implementation of MAPS for Kids. Recent initiatives have also included his introduction of a potential MAPS 3, his chairmanship of the Core to Shore committee of city leaders, and continued job growth in greater Oklahoma City. Led by more than 4,000 jobs that Dell is in the process of hiring, greater Oklahoma City has gained over 65,000 new jobs so far during Cornett's term in office.

Cornett is a proponent for progressive issues/initiatives such as light rail/rapid mass transit, economic diversification, urban renaissance, and civic beautification. Neighborhoods such as Asia District, Uptown, MidTown, Capital Hill, and numerous others have all experienced an economic revitalization during his tenure.

Downtown has experienced a continued renaissance (since 1993) under Cornett's leadership, earning Oklahoma City the moniker 'Renaissance City' from tourists and local residents. Among many successful ventures, the Skirvin Hilton hotel reopened February, 2007, after nearly two decades of abandonment. The hotel is considered to be the finest in the state.

Oklahoma City's growth under Cornett is in another way evidenced by its population growth. In June 2007, the U.S. Census announced its estimate that Oklahoma City had grown in central city population of 543,000 residents; over 1.26 percent between July 2005 and July 2006. Since the official Census in 2000, Oklahoma City has grown over six percent according to the Census Bureau, making it the 12th-fastest growing city (over 500,000 in population) in the United States.

In June 2007, Cornett announced that Oklahoma City had secured the 2010 Annual Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Previous recent hosts have included other major cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Boston, Chicago, and Denver.

On December 31, 2007, Cornett put Oklahoma City on a "diet," launching the web site, www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com. He appeared on the The Ellen Degeneres Show to promote the initiative on January 17, 2008.

Cornett earned a journalism degree in TV news and worked in news and sports as a reporter, anchor, and manager in Oklahoma City. As a reporter, he covered city politics from 1997 to 1999. In 1999 he started his own video production company, Mick Cornett Video Productions, specializing in jobs for the corporate and legal sectors. He is the co-host of The Verdict, a show on local television discussing legal and social issues. He also reported on the Oklahoma City based Oklahoma Wranglers of the Arena Football League from 2000-2001.

Mayor Cornett teamed up with the YUM Corporation to promote Taco Bell in 2008.

[edit] Bid for Congress

On 11 May 2006, Cornett announced that he would be running to fill the seat in the United States House of Representatives vacated by Ernest Istook. On August 22, 2006, he faced Lt. Governor Mary Fallin in a GOP run-off election. Fallin won.

Cornett is a native of Oklahoma City. He is married to Lisa and has three sons.

[edit] References

Preceded by
Kirk Humphreys		 Mayor of Oklahoma City
2004 – present		 Incumbent
Persondata
NAME Cornett, Mick
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mick
SHORT DESCRIPTION Mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH