Published in the October 2013 80th Anniversary issue

When our federal government is so stubbornly committed to failure, our only recourse is to look to the local. Adapted from Esquire's 80 Things, here are seven mayors from around the country who are actually doing their jobs and doing them well.

JULIÁN CASTRO, 39

San Antonio (population 1.36 million)

Created a pre-K program that will allow 22,000 low-income four-year-olds to attend school.

TERRY BELLAMY, 41

Asheville, N.C. (population 85,000)

Reduced carbon emissions by 18 percent in five years; first African-American and youngest mayor in the city's history; homecoming queen of Asheville High School.

MICHAEL NUTTER, 56

Philadelphia (population 1.536 million)

Launched an initiative to reduce gun violence by targeting repeat offenders and teaching gun safety, which led to a 40 percent drop in shooting victims; created nearly 10,000 summer jobs for city youths.

SHANE BEMIS, 41

Gresham, Oreg. (population 107,000)

Enabled 144 small businesses to open in three years by waiving all fees and charges for new businesses if they moved into previously vacant spaces; currently replacing all of Gresham's streetlights with LED bulbs; owns Boccelli's Ristorante, described on Yelp as "the best restaurant in Gresham. Granted that's not a high bar, but still the best."

ANNISE PARKER, 57

Houston (population 2.14 million)

Total number of jobs have grown 13.1 percent since she became mayor in 2010, the highest rate of improvement among large cities; first gay mayor of a major American city; former oil executive who champions renewable energy; raised a teenager she met at a pride parade.

R. REX PARRIS, 61

Lancaster, Calif. (population 157,000)

Requires all new homes to be powered by solar panels in an effort to make Lancaster the first energy-self-sufficient town; explains his acceptance of climate-change science by saying he "may be a Republican" but he's "not an idiot."

JERRY GIST, 71

Jackson, Tenn. (population 65,000)

Improved the health of citizens by making groceries available in food deserts, improving biking and walking paths, and reducing health-care costs by $2 million in the first year of reforms; describes his role as the mayor of a small town as the one "everybody calls."

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