Waldemar Socha, Mayor of the City of Żory

Since 1998, the Mayor of Żory was elected the President of Żory for the first time. As one of the few city leaders in Poland, he performs his function continuously – now for the sixth term.

He is recognized as one of the best and most effective local government officials in Poland, which is confirmed by the title of “Leader by appointment” awarded to him by Why Story magazine and the 10th place in the “Pearls of the Self-Government” Ranking in 2021 and the title of laureate in the “Governor” category.

One of the greatest successes of Waldemar Socha is the complete reconstruction of the infrastructure of Żory after the period of economic transformation, which, in combination with courageous and consistent actions, allowed him to attract many serious domestic and foreign investors to Żory, who created thousands of jobs in the city. Under his leadership, the city turned from one of the poorest cities in Silesia into a dynamically developing urban center, implementing innovative solutions in various areas, such as Free Public Transport, a program for the construction of a thousand rental apartments “With a future in Żory”, or a comprehensive support system for people with disabilities.

In his activities, he strives to provide all residents with the best possible living conditions, because he is guided by the motto that a city is complete only when you think about all its inhabitants.

He was born on November 21, 1962 in Nisko. He graduated from the 1st Secondary School of General Karol Miarka in Żory, and then studies at the Faculty of Foreign Trade at the Central School of Planning and Statistics. He is also a graduate of postgraduate studies organized by the University of Silesia and the University of Minnesota in the field of restructuring the management of a commune for sustainable development of the region. From 1989 he successfully ran his own business.