Wojciech Szczurek
Mayor of Gdynia

A third-generation inhabitant and enthusiast of Gdynia. Born on 1 December, 1963 - in Gdynia, as might be expected.

A doctor of law, he graduated from the University of Gdańsk. His earlier education was in primary school No 35 in the district of Witomino and in Adam Mickiewicz secondary school No. 2.

A judge by profession. In 1989-1994 he was the head of the Civil Department of the District Court in Gdynia. A member of the senate of the Academy of International Economic and Political Relations.
He has been mayor of Gdynia since 1998, getting a record-high support from more than 85 per cent of the voters in 2006.

Earlier, he was among the founders of the Civic Committee in Gdynia in 1990. That year he started his local government activity in the City Council of Gdynia. In 1991-1998 he was the council president, also representing Gdynia in the Pomeranian regional assembly. Since 2003, Wojciech Szczurek has been president of the Amber Road Cities Association - an organisation whose activities helped the construction of the A-1 motorway to take off.

He holds many awards and distinctions - among them, the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, gold - one of the highest distinctions awarded by the Pope to laity. He is the only mayor in Poland to have been honoured with the Friend of Integration medal, awarded to those working for persons with disabilities not because it is their job, but because they want to build social integration. He is also among "Allies of Pomeranian Entrepreneurship" - honoured by the Pomeranian Chamber of Commerce with the Amber Kogga. In 2002, the Businessman monthly awarded him the title of "Patron of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises". In 2003. he was chosen "Man of the Year 2002" by the Dziennik Bałtycki daily and "Radio Personality of the Year" by Radio Gdańsk. In 2005, the minister of culture and national heritage conferred on Wojciech Szczurek the highest award the minister can grant - the Gloria Artis silver medal. The Polish Employers' Confederation honoured him with the Wektor 2006 statue for developing a new definition of the word "administrator" and for "administering the enterprise called Gdynia in a remarkably efficient manner." From the Styl Życia monthly he obtained the Golden Giraffe in 2007 - for his style of public mediation. The same year, the Gdynia branch of the Kashubian-Pomeranian Association granted him the "Antoni Abraham's Silver Snuffbox" for his contribution to the Kashubian region. In 2008 he was the first local government official to be honoured with a special statue by a foundation which promotes reading to children.

Wojciech Szczurek is also a writer (2 books and many articles) on business activity of municipalities, as well as on issues of law and local government.

He is married to Barbara, a doctor in natural sciences, with three sons: Mateusz, Marek and Maciej.

His preferred leisure is walking along Skwer Kościuszki and the promenade; he also enjoys longer walks from the city centre along the beach to Orłowo. He can also be spotted on sites of municipal projects - he probably believes the eye of the master will do more work than both his hands.