The Health Fitness Revolution institute led by Samir Becic continues to be an annual resource in ranking US Politicians (mayors, senators, congresspeople, governors) on fitness and health, and has been for the past 6 years. Across the nation, numerous national media are using our lists and reporting the information. Every year, we update our lists because we feel that it’s important our politicians continue to be good leaders by demonstrating healthy lifestyles themselves in addition to promoting it within their communities.
“By mayors urging their cities to become healthier and fitter, they will save hundreds of billions of dollars, corporations will be more productive, and our children will be healthier throughout their lives so that they can become the leaders of the future. I believe that Mayors can be great ambassadors for a healthier and fitter nation. The mayors on this list are not only fit themselves but promote health and fitness to their cities and constituents- which is a major ranking criteria.” says Samir Becic.
Samir Becic, author of the book ReSYNC Your Life, intends to use this list to motivate other mayors to be more active and fit in order to be the best ambassadors for their cities. The wealth and prosperity of a nation is dependent on the health and physicality of its people. “Every politician in the United States who is physically fit and promotes a healthy lifestyle in order to improve the future of our children has my vote, regardless of party” adds Becic.
This list of the Top 25 Fittest Mayors in America is a preliminary list from which we choose the Top 10 Fittest U.S. Mayors 2018. They are listed in alphabetical order:
Allen Joines
Age: 70
City: Winston-Salem
Cut the ribbon@Union Cross Credit Union this a.m! 3-5 grades volunteer, & the exp teaches financial responsibility. pic.twitter.com/hLc8eXDS
— Mayor Allen Joines (@Allen_Joines) November 14, 2012
- Mayor Joines Tried to bring childhood obesity to the attention of local healthcare. Did 10 workouts with people of all ages for 10 days
- https://myfox8.com/2013/08/13/winston-salem-mayor-hits-the-gym-to-help-fight-obesity/
- Mayor Joines launched his Childhood Obesity Prevention Initiative to help educate children seven to ten years of age, and their parents, about the importance of good nutrition and exercise. He has formed an initiative to work on reducing poverty in Winston-Salem and is making that one of his top priorities.
- Mayor Joines was voted one of the “Most Influential” people in the Triad for 2006 thru 2015. In 2013, the Winston-Salem Journal named him one of the fifty individuals who helped shape Winston-Salem in its first one hundred years.
Bill de Blasio
Age: 57
City: New York City
- Mayor de Blasio defends workout habits before detailing $385M gym plan for students
- Builds new gymnasiums in schools and demands that all students get physical education in school
- Has said “I think anyone, especially a decision-maker, needs physical activity to keep themselves focused and balanced,” de Blasio said of his own routine. “I think it’s really important for anyone doing serious work. I would encourage anyone in any field, if they’re not getting physical activity, I think it’s undermining their ability to do all they have to do.”
- Blasio does a 15 min yoga session and 90 min workout with his wife at the YMCA early mornings.
Catherine Pugh
Age: 68
City: Baltimore
View this post on Instagram
Had a great meeting with @magicjohnson this morning. We’re going to make Baltimore a #MagicCity
- In the mornings she can be seen stretching to go on her daily run and walk workout
- Mayor Pugh helped created the Baltimore marathon
- http://www.espn.com/espnw/voices/article/17946459/meet-catherine-pugh-senator-marathoner
- The idea of the marathon was decided by her, because of running in Baltimore is about being an inclusive city, becoming more diverse and realizing that the area has such great things happening.
- “We want people to be healthy. Whether it’s running, walking, skipping, hopping or jumping, you just have to move your body. We are trying to create more bike trails in the city for people to be able to ride safely.” quote from Interview she did with ESPN could be useful as a motivation quote
- She is an avid runner and has run 48 races in one year
Dan Pope
Age: 55
City: Lubbock
The @SalArmyLubbock held their kick off for the Red Kettle Campaign. You can find the red kettles starting today until December 23rd. pic.twitter.com/TxuO5A9Q1c
— Dan Pope (@MayorDanPope) November 17, 2017
- Mayor Pope has a fitness council and promotes healthy eating and active lifestyles and cooperates with the health science center and the healthy Lubbock effort
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shfp918qbjA
- http://www.njherald.com/20180813/new-retro-fitness-gives-clients-more-than-a-place-to-work-out
- Created the Mayor’s Marathon which is a mayor that uses the money from the registrations and donates them to charities across lubbock
- Is an avid runner
Eric Garcetti
Age: 47
City: Los Angeles
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Pursuing strong U.S.-Canada relations in Griffith Park this morning. #captioncontest
- Mayor Garcetti takes morning hikes in the park with his family and when he has guest come in town to tour the city.
- Video of him hiking with canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
- Supports the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area which helps maintain the wild life and the trails for hiking.
- Beyond his time at City Hall, Mayor Garcetti has served his country as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve and taught at the University of Southern California and Occidental College.
- The Mayor received his B.A. and M.A. from Columbia University, and studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, and later at the London School of Economics. He is also a jazz pianist and photographer.
- He and his wife, First Lady Amy Elaine Wakeland, are the proud parents of a daughter, Maya, and have been foster parents for more than a decade.
Francis Suarez
Age: 40
City: Miami
- Mayor Suarez does a daily run to stay fit and attends community events.
- Has been known to play pick up basketball in the public parks in Miami with kids
- In May 2018, he hosted and participated in a bike ride down Commodore trails that people could get tickets for
Hillary Schieve
Age:47
City: Reno
- Mayor Schieve had a previous athletic career as a figure skater but was stricken with kidney failure which prevented her to pursue her olympic dream.
- Her sister had to donate a kidney to save her life so she supports organ donations
- https://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a47318/hillary-schieve-mayor-reno/
Jacob Frey
Age: 37
City: Minneapolis
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- Mayor Frey runs daily and was a part of his high school track team.
- He is a former professional runner and marathoner, between the years of 2007-2008 he has run in the Pan Am games, Olympic trials, and the new york city marathon.
- Jacob grew up in northern Virginia and went to the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA on a track scholarship. Source: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/mayor/about-jacob
Jay Tibshraeny
Age: 64
City: Chandler
Can I join? pic.twitter.com/tunZ1IxrgR
— jay tibshraeny (@jaytibshraeny) June 17, 2018
- Mayor Tibshraeny as a native of Chandler, a lifelong public servant of Arizona’s East Valley, and an avid runner and bicyclist.
- Mayor Tibshraeny knows amenities like health and wellness programming, parks and open spaces, and recreational trails make Chandler an excellent place to live”
- https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2015/april/chandler-arizonas-jay-tibshraeny/)
Jeff Longwell
Age: 55
City: Wichita
I play a little basketball myself. Let me know if any of you need pointers. #MarchMadness #ILoveWichita pic.twitter.com/9pKEo8GLtO
— Mayor Jeff Longwell (@jefflongwellict) March 12, 2018
- Mayor Longwell created the walk and talk program and encourages the city to walk to work as a daily routine.
- Supports the Wichita City Thunder
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgPIzEcWc0M
- WALK with the MAYOR, Longwell talks about some of the improvements on the Arkansas River. Wichitans will soon be able to rent bikes, canoes and paddleboards right by the river.
Jenny Durkan
Age: 60
City: Seattle
- Mayor Jenny has the Jump Club in place at the teen center in Seattle and also participate in single rope and double dutch jump rope.
- Is the first women to lead the city in nearly a century
- Coached girls basketball in a Yupik fishing village in Alaska
John Suthers
Age: 66
City: Colorado Springs
Lifelong Bronco fan John with friend Jack Wiepking before heading to the big game. Go Broncos! #UnitedInOrange pic.twitter.com/WjF9x3vxd7
— John Suthers (@JohnSuthers) January 11, 2015
- Mayor Suthers bikes with him community daily as a way to stay fit.
- Did a four-mile bike ride with the community for bike month- https://www.trailsandopenspaces.org/2017/05/31/join-mayor-john-suthers-on-a-bike-ride/
- Has participated in bike to work day- https://www.denverpost.com/2015/06/24/2-wheeled-commuters-flood-denver-on-bike-to-work-day/
Jonathan Rothschild
Age: 63
City: Tucson
Great planting #trees at Elvira Elementary with Trees for Tucson and Kinder Morgan. https://t.co/obJyrxmenD #Tucson pic.twitter.com/CBxPt9xmpY
— Jonathan Rothschild (@JRothschildAZ) August 22, 2016
- Mayor promotes healthy neighborhoods and supports healthy habits, by logging millions of miles of daily physical activity. He launched in November 2013, K-6 Fitness Day which promotes physical activity for elementary school students in all local school districts.
- https://twitter.com/JRothschildAZ/status/767865663423602688
- Walk 100 Miles with the Mayor, the walk was part of my Tucson Moves a Million Miles initiative, created after my first challenge.
- Tucson Moves a Million Miles, I’ve challenged Tucsonans of all ages to increase their physical activity. This is a TEAM initiative, so Together we are striving to Eat well, Achieve and Move.
Joseph Hogsett
Age: 61
City: Indianapolis
- Mayor Hogsett focus is on preventing crime, protecting taxpayers, and creating opportunities for working families.
- He is also dedicated to investing Indianapolis’ resources back into our neighborhoods. He also bikes around the city and competes in biking marathons.
- Mayor Hogsett focus is on preventing crime, protecting taxpayers, and creating opportunities for working families.
- He is also dedicated to investing Indianapolis’ resources back into our neighborhoods.
Kirk Caldwell
Age: 65
City: Honolulu
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City services begin to come back online Saturday as Lane weakens. Read more: https://bit.ly/2BTpVWy
- He’s big into surfing, hiking, biking, and paddleboarding.
- He is among many mayors who launch a 10-minute walk to a park campaign in his city
- Access to high-quality parks around the city
Lenny Curry
Age: 48
City: Jacksonville
- Mayor curry focuses on the public safety and Created the “Marathon” as a push for the community to lose 1 pound.
- He runs daily to keep himself in shape.
- Created the Kids Hope Alliance program which helps kids with after school activity, mental health, fitness and nutrition. http://kidshopealliance.org/
- Mayor Lenny Curry is the 44th mayor of the City of Jacksonville, Florida. A native Floridian, husband, father, and business owner, he was sworn in on July 1, 2015.
Muriel Bowser
Age: 46
City: Washington D.C
- Washington D.C. was one of America’s Fittest City last year, for 3 years in a row and now mayor bowers is working to get the city back to its #1 spot.
- Workouts, walks and runs, nutrition seminars and health expos daily. #FitDC program
- Mayor Bowser expanded opportunity across all 8 Wards of DC by strengthening job training programs, and by attracting and retaining jobs in the District.
Rahm Emanuel
Age: 58
City: Chicago
- Video about his workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usjjXcGcs3M
- Works out 7 days a week
- Swims, bikes and has a weight routine
- Three mornings a week, Rahm wakes up early, runs to the gym, and swims a mile in a 50-meter indoor pool. Then he does chest exercises and runs two miles back to his Ravenswood Manor home
- Takes a multivitamin every day
- Takes private yoga classes
- Mayor Emanuel is working on childhood obesity too- he is working in partnership with agencies, foundations, corporations, and other key stakeholders, to give all children in Chicago the childhood they deserve by having access to parks and playgrounds.
- Made HFR’s list of Fittest American Politicians 2017
Ron Nirenberg
Age: 41
City: San Antonio
- Strength training helps keep him sharp both mentally and physically, said mayor Ron Nirenberg.
- He been lifting weights since he was about 14. In fact, he was a competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter.
- Eats clean as much as possible
- Tries to workout 3 times a week
Sam Liccardo
Age: 48
City: San Jose
- Mayor Sam Liccardo has worked hard to build a safer and stronger San José.
- He led the effort to finally resolve years of pension disputes and begin to restore the police department. Working out with the police department whenever he has time.
- make San José a climate leader by adopting one of the first Paris Agreement-aligned sustainability plans in the country, with bold climate goals that will transform San José into a more inclusive, and equitable city.
Sharon Weston Broome
Age: 61
City: Baton Rouge
- Mayor Broome Talks about her move with the mayor program where she invites people to bike with her.
- In the article talks about losing 25 pounds. http://www.wafb.com/story/38809133/mayor-broome-speaks-candidly-about-weight-loss-and-her-personal-health-journey
- Stresses that everyone should find their own fitness plans that work for them
Steven Fulop
Age: 41
City: Jersey City
- Mayor Fulop is a triathlete and has participated in ironman.
- Competed in the Aquadraat Sports United States Ironman Triathlon Championships, an event that will run through both New York and New Jersey.
- Details about the race Fulop competed in: http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/19744348/article-SCOREBOARD-Fulop-taking-on-another-challenge–Being-an-Ironman-Jersey-City-Councilman-among-locals-heading-to-U-S–Ironman-Triathlon-Championship?mobile_view=false
Sylvester Turner
Age: 63
City: Houston
- Mayor Turner believes in his determination to make Houston one of the healthiest cities in US. “By becoming a healthier and fitter city’’.
- Bikes 100 miles weekly
- Joined the #PushUpsEverywhere campaign in an effort to raise obesity awareness in his city. Mr. Turner easily did his 10 push-ups, then challenging the Mayor of New York City, Bill De Blasio, and the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti to do 10 #PushUpsEverywhere to promote health in their cities as well. Mayor Turner also said if they completed theirs, he would do 20 more!
- Houston’s bike share system, Houston BCycle, will grow to 128 stations over the next two years as part of the program’s expansion funded by a $3.7 million federal grant.
- “Houston BCycle’s expansion project is allowing more Houstonians an affordable way to improve their personal health as well as the health of our environment,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Cycling allows people to explore neighborhoods in a unique and engaging way. Increasing the number of Houston BCycle stations provides a much-needed alternative to traveling in single-occupancy automotive vehicles and complements our public transit system.”
- In 2017, Houston BCycle users offset 913,332 pounds of carbon emissions and burned over 38 million calories.
- Previously named HFR’s U.S. Mayor of the Year 2017
- Named among HFR’s Top 25 Fittest Mayors
Ted Wheeler
Age: 55
City: Portland
- Mayor Wheeler bikes around the city of portland daily when he is not busy with work and exercise daily to stay fit.
- https://twitter.com/tedwheeler/status/991356478429646848
- Ted is a longtime community volunteer leader and has devoted energy to diverse organizations including Neighborhood House, Portland Mountain Rescue, and the Oregon Sports Authority.
- He is an Eagle Scout. He lives in Southwest Portland with his wife and daughter. Source: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/wheeler/72222
Tim Keller
Age: 40
City: Albuquerque
- Mayor Keller hopes to create a healthier city
- https://jasoncollinphotography.com/blog/mayor-keller-gladiators- He played in an exhibition game for gladiator football
- In his personal time, Keller, a former quarterback in high school, still enjoys the game and played for Albuquerque’s professional Arena Football team in their season opener.
- He is an Eagle Scout
