In 2001, the people of Atlanta elected Shirley Franklin, a first time candidate for public office, to serve as the 58th Mayor of the City of Atlanta. She became the first female mayor of Atlanta and the first African American woman to serve as mayor of a major southern city. Mayor Franklin has worked hard to build a “Best in Class” managed city.She has been featured in numerous local and national publications and has been included in some very impressive lists: Governing Magazine, Time Magazine, the World Mayor internet organization and was named one of “America’s Best Leaders” by U.S. News and World Report and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. American City and County Magazine named her Municipal Leader of the Year. Mayor Franklin is also a recipient of the 2005 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.