Mick Cornett became Oklahoma City’s 35th mayor in March 2004. He was re-elected in March 2006 with more than 87 percent of the vote, the highest percentage in Oklahoma City history.

As mayor of America’s 29th-largest city, Cornett has focused on two fundamental priorities: education and jobs. At the top of his list has been the implementation of MAPS for Kids, which has provided funding for improvements in the 24 school districts that serve Oklahoma City. In 2007, the U.S. Conference of Mayors awarded Cornett the “City Livability Outstanding Achievement Award” for his efforts.

More than 72,000 new jobs have been created in Greater Oklahoma City since Cornett took office, led by the arrival of Dell Computers on the Oklahoma River in 2004. The arrival of the NBA in 2005, the permanent attainment of major league status in 2008, and the announcement of the new Devon Tower that same year have all underscored Oklahoma City’s emergence as a world-class city.

In addition, Cornett successfully spearheaded initiatives to improve the State Fair facilities in 2004, city streets in 2007, and the Ford Center in 2008. Cornett’s efforts to use sports as an economic development tool won him the Abe Lemons/Paul Hansen Award from Oklahoma City University in 2006 and the Ray Soldan Media Award from the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association in 2008.

In December 2007 Cornett launched a campaign to encourage Oklahoma City residents to lose weight and be more fit. For his efforts, he was recognized with the “Prevention in Practice” award from the Oklahoma State Medical Association, the “Rodney L. Huey, M.D., Memorial Champion of Oklahoma Health” award from Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the “Public Official” award from the Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition.

In 2007, Cornett was elected as a trustee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the highest governing body in that organization. Cornett is also the national president of Republican Mayors and Local Officials, a national coalition of elected city and county officials that offers a unified voice representing local government leadership. In June 2007 Mayor Cornett made the exciting announcement that Oklahoma City had secured the 2010 Annual Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Cornett has developed into a statewide and national spokesperson on municipal issues. He is frequently asked to speak to Congress and the White House on behalf of cities across the nation.

For all of this success, Cornett is quick to credit the vision of his predecessors, the hard work of the city council, city manager, city staff, and the people of Oklahoma City. Because of them, Oklahoma City is proudly becoming a model of progress for the nation.

Cornett was born and raised in Oklahoma City, the son of a postman and a Putnam City school teacher. He graduated from Putnam City High School, where he was honored as the most outstanding student in government. Mick and his wife Lisa began dating when they were high school sophomores and have been together ever since. They have raised three sons – Michael, Casey and Tristan – who are all district graduates.

Cornett says he recognizes now that Putnam City High was ahead of its time when he was in school, offering courses and opportunities not available elsewhere. He believes the culture of excellence he experienced in Putnam City schools prepared him for the successes he has enjoyed in his life.