Government

What Republican Mayors Can Do for Cities

The mayor of Oklahoma City explains how conservative principles helped the city grow from nowheresville to a magnet for Millennials.
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, speaking on day one of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.J. Scott Applewhite/AP

CLEVELAND—Mick Cornett is the mayor of Oklahoma City and the recently appointed president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He spoke on day one of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, and Wednesday he’s participating in the Arts Speak forum at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Mayor Cornett spoke with CityLab about the Republican Party, what conservative principles can do for a city, and—of course—basketball.

You are one of the few Republican mayors of major cities—San Diego, Jacksonville, Oklahoma City. What can the Republican Party bring to local municipal administration?