Multimedia | The Nation

"The media and pollsters don't focus on urban issues. They focus on the war, abortion, gay rights -- things that, quite frankly, for those of us in the trenches, are not exactly the hot button issues."

"Water is my top 10 priorities. Or top 20"

"The Rocky mountains are a place where people come together and put aside partisan issues to solve problems. Being able to talk about those pragmatic solutions is going to be of great benefit to the entire country."

"I hope when the presidential candidates talk about cities, they stop thinking about us as basketcases, and think instead of the potential of cities to turn this country around."

"While presidential candidates are raising substantial amounts of money in cities, they are spending it in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina ... It disproportionately puts the focus on [rural] areas of the country where the majority of our citizenry do not live."

"Republicans and Democrats alike, among mayors in this country, have been very, very upset and concerned about the disregard for cities by this administration."