Edmonds has, what is called a strong Mayor, while cities like Mountlake Terrace and Shoreline have a City Manager, this is because the City has chosen to have a Weak Mayor. This issue has been tossed around for many years in Edmonds. While Edmonds is not considering this issue, ECR thought it would be good to educate our citizens about this issue and offer insight and difference is between the two.
A city manager and mayor are two of the most prestigious positions in local government. City managers, sometimes known as city administrators, are generally appointed by mayors or councils based on their education and experience in local government. Mayors are elected by their constituents or selected from among members of the council through an election or rotation.
This information below comes from the National League of Cities, a non-partisan organization made up of mayors throughout the entire U.S.
Background
With the great variation from state to state, there are multiple terms used to identify persons elected to municipal office. The chief-elected official is commonly called the mayor. The mayor may be elected directly or appointed by an elected council, depending on the city’s form of government and authority given to the mayor.
The city council is an elected body of legislators who govern the municipality. Depending upon state law and the municipal government charter, there are often other elected positions, including those such as the city clerk, city treasurer, or city attorney.
Although voters in the majority of cities (76 percent) elect the mayor or council president directly, there is variation by population, geographic division and form of government.
Mayoral Powers
Mayors are bestowed varying degrees of responsibility and authority across the nation, especially depending on a city’s form of government.
These responsibilities may include:
Serving on the city council;
Voting in council meetings;
Assigning council members to chair or serve on committees;
Appointing citizens to serve on advisory boards or commissions;
Preparing the annual budget; Receiving the annual budget developed by chief administrative official or city manager; and
Making an annual report to the council.
Weak or Strong Mayors
Cities in the United States are sometimes characterized as having either “strong” or “weak” mayors. The term is not a judgement of effectiveness, rather it distinguishes the level of political power and administrative authority assigned to the mayor in the municipal charter. In practice, there is no sharp category that distinguishes between “weak” and “strong” mayors, but rather a continuum of authority and power along which cities are spread. However, the designation of “weak” and “strong” are useful in showing the variations in mayoral authority that exist.
Most “strong” mayors are in the mayor-council form of government, and are directly elected by citizens to that office. Most “weak” mayors are mayors in a council-manager form, and are elected from within the city council.
Characteristics of a “strong” mayor:
The mayor is the chief executive officer, centralizing executive power.
The mayor directs the administrative structure, appointing and removing of department heads.
While the council has legislative power, the mayor has veto power.
The council does not oversee daily operations.
Characteristics of a “weak” mayor:
The council is powerful, with both legislative and executive authority.
The mayor is not truly the chief executive, with limited power or no veto power.
The council can prevent the mayor from effectively supervising city administration.
There may be many administrative boards and commissions that operate independently from the city government.
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