Mayor Bryan Barnett Elected Chair of the GPM Executive Committee

The Global Parliament of Mayors is proud to announce that Mayor Bryan K. Barnett of Rochester Hills, Michigan (USA) has been elected Chair of the GPM Executive Committee. Mayor Barnett has been an active and highly valued member of the GPM for many years, serving previously on the Executive Committee, and as Vice-Chair. His longstanding commitment to city leadership, innovation, and international collaboration has made him a respected voice within the global network of mayors.

Mayor Barnett will be taking over the position of Chair from Mayor Ricardo Rio of Braga, Portugal, who has served with distinction and dedication in this role. Mayor Eckart Würzner of Heidelberg, Germany, will succeed Mayor Barnett as Vice-Chair.

As Chair, Mayor Barnett will lead the GPM’s continued efforts to strengthen the role of cities in global governance, promote democracy and human rights at the local level, and advance the GPM’s vision of mayors collaborating across borders to address shared global challenges.

Bryan K. Barnett has served as Mayor of Rochester Hills, Michigan for more than 13 years, making him the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history. When first elected, he was the youngest mayor in the United States of a city with a population over 50,000. Under his leadership, Rochester Hills has earned national and international recognition for innovation, fiscal responsibility, operational excellence, and environmental leadership. The city has repeatedly been ranked among “America’s Best Places to Live” by CNN and Money Magazine, and has held the title of “Safest City in Michigan” for several years.

Mayor Barnett is a frequent national speaker on topics such as innovative government, sustainability, and economic development, and has represented his city and region on numerous international delegations. Mayor Barnett has also served as the 77th President of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), as USCM President, he focused on Infrastructure, Innovation, and Inclusion, championing the priorities of America’s cities at the national level.