REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA - Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini is among 26 nominees vying for the best world mayor 2014 title, a version of the World Mayor Prize (WMP). Surabaya Cooperation Agency head Ifron Hady Susanto said on Wednesday that the provincial government received an email from The City Mayors Foundation (CMF) informing it about the election of Surabaya Mayor as one of the 26 nominees for the best world mayor title.

"Previously, The City Mayors Foundation selected 121 best world mayor candidates from different countries. The total has now narrowed down to 26 mayors," he said.

In the final phase, Tri Rismaharini is the only representative from Indonesia left at the event which is held every two years. Mayors City is a non-commercial foundation established in 2003 with the aim of supporting, encouraging, and facilitating local governments around the world to usher in good governance practices. The WMP title was first awarded in 2004 and the award used to be given annually until 2006 when City Mayor decided to make it a biennial event.

Of the 26 best mayors from around the world nominated as candidates for the WMP, four are from North America, four from Latin America, nine from Europe, six from Asia, one from Australia, and two mayors are from Africa. Some of the names among the nominees include Naheed Nenshi (Calgary, Canada), Annise Parker (Houston, USA), Mick Cornett (Oklahoma City, USA), Kevin Johnson (Sacramento, USA), Marcio Lacerda (Belo Horizonte, Brazil), Alvaro Arzu (Guatemala City, Guatemala), Carlos Eduardo Correa (Monteria, Colombia), Carlos Ocariz (Sucre, Venezuela), and Alain Juppe (Bordeaux, France).