Mayor Claude Ramsey’s leadership has catalyzed a movement for healthy eating and active living in Hamilton County. During his 30 years of public service, he has launched a variety of innovative policies and programs to improve the health and well-being of his constituents.

Currently serving his fourth term as mayor, Ramsey is always looking for ways to promote healthy lifestyles. With the stimulus funds that recently became available to state and local communities, Ramsey’s administration is dedicating more than $2 million for greenways, sidewalk improvements, bicycle facilities, streetscaping projects, trails, bikeways and public transportation enhancements.

Mayor Gavin Newsom is an energetic advocate for healthy eating and active living and is widely credited with transforming San Francisco’s approach to nutrition, transportation and activity policies.

The city’s youngest mayor in over a century, Newsom committed himself to making San Francisco the most pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly municipality in the nation. Toward that end, he secured $8 million in federal and local funds for the Better Streets program, which ensures that public health perspectives are fully integrated into urban planning processes.

Michael Bloomberg has quickly emerged as one the nation’s leading public health advocates, using his role as mayor not only to improve the health of New Yorkers, but also to show how determined municipal leadership can help create healthier communities.

During his tenure as major, Michael Bloomberg has implemented a wide variety of creative, groundbreaking policies designed to increase access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity throughout the city, particularly in lower-income areas. Many of these visionary approaches have served as models for other communities nationwide.

Getting up at 5 a.m. isn’t always easy. Wes Hare, city manager of Albany, Oregon,  acknowledges as much. Yet that is how he has begun his day for almost 15 years, with an early morning jog. Although he had fallen out of the habit for a time during his previous stint as city manager of La Grande, Oregon, Hare’s passion for running was reignited when a good friend who was into mountain climbing encouraged him to get back in shape so that they could do some climbing together.

Hare’s enthusiasm for exercise has heavily influenced his approach to local government management. For him, one of the city’s key functions is to create a safe environment for physical activity, and in Albany he has been instrumental in shaping initiatives to create a healthier community, especially for youth.