Podcasts Government City Journal's 10 Blocks The Next American City

The Next American City

Published: Oct. 3, 2018, 12:24 p.m.

Mick Cornett joins\xa0Aaron Renn\xa0to discuss Cornett's time as mayor of Oklahoma City (2004-2018) and his new book\xa0The Next American City: The Big Promise of Our Midsize Metros.

America is full of\xa0midsize cities\xa0that have prospered through smart governance, including\xa0Charleston,\xa0Des Moines, Indianapolis,\xa0Sacramento\u2014and\xa0Oklahoma City. Over the last decade-plus, elected officials and community leaders have made real progress on improving\xa0these\xa0urban centers,\xa0boosting\xa0civic vitality, and\xa0creating\xa0economic opportunity for residents.

Cornett's\xa0four successful terms as mayor of Oklahoma\u2019s largest city\xa0offer\xa0a blueprint for reform-minded mayors across the country. "The Next American City," Aaron Renn\xa0writes, "charts Oklahoma City's transformation, offers examples of similar turnarounds in other cities, and describes Cornett's personal journey from sportscaster to mayor."