46. Jack Schnirman

Long Beach was already in the midst of a fiscal crisis during Schnirman’s first year in office when Mother Nature dealt the cash-strapped city another major blow: Superstorm Sandy. The barrier island was battered and its iconic boardwalk blasted to smithereens. But since the devastating hurricane slammed Long Beach, Schnirman has led efforts to rebuild “stronger, smarter and safer” and has secured federal funding for many of the seaside community’s rebuilding efforts, including a redesigned boardwalk scheduled to open in November. Schnirman arrived in Long Beach with serious credentials: He served as Chief Deputy Supervisor in Brookhaven Town, where he supervised 1,200 workers and implemented a 3-1-1 non-emergency hotline that saved the town more than $2 million. His resumé includes stints in the private and non-profit sector. He might also want to consider adding “miracle maker” from now on, too.