Mayors establish goals, objectives, and public policies, review and approve annual budgets and approve capital expenditures. Mayors often appoint management staff, such as City Manager , City Attorney, and City Administrator and create advisory boards comprised of community members and local business and industry representatives.
Additional mayoral duties typically include participating in public events and ceremonies, executing official documents, presiding over discussions on various issues and calling special meetings when necessary. Typically, mayor salaries vary and may be determined by location or city size. In general, smaller municipalities pay less than larger cities.
In small towns, mayors may receive a small salary, or none at all, particularly if the position is part-time. Job prospects may vary according to local conditions, and competition is typically strong for elected positions.
Employment prospects and salary ranges also may vary based on the employer and regional market conditions, as well as individual work history and education. Prospective students are encouraged to conduct independent research to determine the actual mayor career and salary potential. In most municipalities, mayors are elected by the voting public. Required education and work experience can vary.
With the right background and qualifications, anyone can run for mayor. Municipalities may vary in their processes for running for mayor but typically make that information available to the public. In others the election is based on votes from city or town council members.
The length of term served will also vary depending on the local area. Terms frequently range from two to four years. Some cities do not place a limit on how many total terms or years can be served or how many times a mayor can be re-elected. Other cities have term limits in place. Duties and methods of election or appointment may vary widely based on the size of the locality and local traditions and laws. Though some individuals will serve their locality for many years, serving as a mayor is often a starting point for a future career in regional or national politics as well.
In a large city or town, there may be a need to have management skills to supervise the work of many staff members.
Some very large cities may even have deputy mayors which serve as assistants. Mayors are also known as: Town Mayor Reeve. What is a Mayor? What does a Mayor do? Are you suited to be a mayor?
County commissioners share power with other elected county officials such as the assessor, auditor, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, county clerk, and treasurer. There are only a handful of Washington cities that elect anyone other than mayors or council members. The separation of authority between the legislative body and the chief executive in the mayor-council, county executive, and council-manager forms of government is very similar.
In the mayor-council form of government, the mayor is the chief administrative officer who is responsible for all administrative functions.
When separately elected, the county executive serves as chief administrative officer in those counties that have a council such as King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Whatcom counties. In the council-manager form, the appointed manager is the chief administrative officer.
The council creates county departments, authorizes positions, and fixes compensation. The council may not direct the hiring of any employee by the chief administrative officer, although local ordinances may call for council confirmation of appointments in the mayor-council form of government.
The mayor has the power to appoint and remove all appointive officers and employees, consistent with the laws of the city. This authority to hire and fire may be delegated to department heads. In the council-manager form, the manager supervises city business, appoints and removes department heads and employees, executes laws, recommends activities to the council, submits reports, submits a proposed budget, and performs other duties directed by ordinance.
Mayors, county executives, city managers, and staff do not make policy decisions. However, they have strong influence on the policymaking process and its resultant decisions.
For example, they propose budgets, oversee staff-led studies and analyses related to proposed policies, and make policy recommendations to councils. Through their ongoing contacts with key interest groups, elected and appointed chief administrative officers and department heads influence and are influenced by other participants in the policy development process. Policy development processes are most effective and productive when key players work well together. Each party has a role to play, along with clearly defined responsibilities.
Conflicts often develop when the legitimate needs and roles of one party are not understood by another. Here are some suggestions that might make the policy development process more effective.
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Share this:. On this Page [hide] On this Page [show]. Overview "Management is doing things right. Legislative Bodies City, town, and county councilmembers and county commissioners are legislators.
Executives While mayors and city managers often develop and propose policies, their basic responsibility is to carry out the council's directives and to implement the policies adopted by the council. Mayor-Council Form of Government: Policy and administration are separate. All legislative and policymaking powers are vested in the city council.
This is also true for most charter counties that have county councils, including King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Whatcom counties.
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