Antanas Mockus Šivickas (Bogotá, March 25, 1952), is a Colombian mathematician, philosopher, and politician. The only son of Lithuanian immigrants, he left his post as principal of the National University of Colombia in Bogotá in 1993, and later that year ran a successful campaign for mayor. He proceeded to preside over Bogotá as mayor for two terms, during which he became known for springing surprising and humorous initiatives upon the city's inhabitants. These tended to involve grand gestures, including local artists or personal appearances by the mayor himself — taking a shower in a commercial about conserving water, or walking the streets dressed in spandex and a cape as Supercitizen. Nickname: Athens of Latin America Motto: Y tú, ¿qué sabes de Bogotá? Municipalities of Bogotá Country Colombia Department Bogotá, D.C.* Foundation August 6, 1538 Mayor Luís Eduardo Garzón, PDA Area    - City 1,732 km² Elevation 2,640 m Population    - City (2005 est. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Euclid, Greek mathematician, 3rd century BC, known today as the father of geometry; shown here in a detail of The School of Athens by Raphael. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Politics is a process by which decisions are made within groups. ... Beaux Arts Building, Bogotá, D.C.. Art Museum, Bogotá, D.C.. The National University of Colombia is a public educational institution. ... Nickname: Athens of Latin America Motto: Y tú, ¿qué sabes de Bogotá? Municipalities of Bogotá Country Colombia Department Bogotá, D.C.* Foundation August 6, 1538 Mayor Luís Eduardo Garzón, PDA Area    - City 1,732 km² Elevation 2,640 m Population    - City (2005 est. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

Bogotá mayorship and presidential bid

Under Mockus's leadership, Bogotá saw improvements as: water usage dropped 40%, 7000 community security groups were formed and the homicide rate fell 70%, traffic fatalities dropped by over 50%, drinking water was provided to all homes (up from 79% in 1993), and sewerage was provided to 95% of homes (up from 71%). When he asked people to pay a voluntary extra 10% in taxes, over 60,000 people did so. His market-oriented social policies were much less successful. Poverty and unemployment levels were high throughout his tenures and continue to be a pressing issue in Bogotá´s social life.

Famous initiatives included hiring 20 mimes to make fun of traffic violators, because he believed Colombians were more afraid of being ridiculed than fined. He also put in place one "Night for Women", on which the city's men were asked to stay home for an evening to look after the house and the children. The city sponsored free open-air concerts, bars offered women-only specials, Ciclovia and the city's women police were in charge of keeping the peace. His initiatives to reduce violence engaging citizens in civil resistance against violence were as original as successful. He successfully combined showmanship, fiscal discipline and heavy reliance on punitive measures. Amassing political support mainly from Bogotá´s middle and upper classes, he has been much less successful attracting voters in the national level. In the past Presidential elections in 2006 he won less than fifty thousand votes, less than 5 percent of the votes. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Ciclovia is an event held in cities in Colombia. ...

In between his two terms as mayor, Mockus ran an unsuccessful 1998 bid for the presidency, first in his own name and later as Noemí Sanín Posada's running mate. In the meanwhile, Enrique Peñalosa replaced him as mayor. Peñalosa worked in a similarly way instituting popular new bike paths and bus systems. When Mockus ran again for the 2001 mayorship, he held a ceremony in a public fountain "to ask forgiveness for leaving the mayor's office in an unsuccessful bid for the presidency."¹ 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... List of Heads of State (Presidents etc. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Recent Work

In 2003 Mockus stepped down as mayor, to be replaced by Luis Eduardo Garzón, and took a year's sabbatical, travelling and speaking around the world. He planned to return to teaching at CNU the following year, although he said he was "considering the possibility of launching a presidential campaign". 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Luis Eduardo Garzón (nicknamed Lucho) (born February 11, 1951 in Bogotá) is currently the Mayor of Bogotá (2004-2007), a left-wing Colombian political activist and a former union leader. ...

After spending two weeks as a visiting fellow at the Kennedy School of Government in the United States in 2004, "to share lessons about civic engagement with students and faculty," Mockus returned to Harvard as a Visiting Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures to teach two Spanish classes during the Fall 2004-2005 semester. In November, Mockus made a special trip to the University of Virginia to speak about the use of positive social mechanisms in relation to his tenure as the mayor of Bogotá. John F. Kennedy School of Government The John F. Kennedy School of Government is a public policy school and one of the graduate schools of Harvard University. ... The University of Virginia (also called UVA, U.Va. ...

In 2004 Lithuanian world-wide daily Draugas chose Mockus as Lithuanian of the Year. In October, 2004 he for the first time visited Lithuanian community in Chicago, IL, which is the biggest Lithuanian community outside the republic of Lithuania, and delivered a speech in his native Lithuanian. Draugas building in Chicago, IL. Draugas (The Friend) is the only Lithuanian daily newspaper published abroad. ... Nickname: The Windy City, The Second City, Chi Town Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in Chicagoland and Illinois Coordinates: Country United States State Illinois County Cook Incorporated March 4, 1837 Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area    - City 606. ...

On December 2, 2005, it was announced that his 2006 presidential campaign will be supported by the Indigenous Social Alliance Movement (ASI). [1] December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Indigenous Social Alliance Movement (Movimiento Alianza Social Indigenaas) is a political party in Colombia. ...

External links

• Democracia a distancia: Elecciones 2006 (Portalcol.com) (Information about Mockus' list of candidates to the Colombian Senate).
• Harvard faculty page in the Romance Languages and Literature department