Local
What a mayor does
The city’s chief executive — in strong-mayor cities. In council-manager cities the mayor may mainly chair the council. Always check the charter before you assign blame.
Sep 10, 2026 · 6 min read · WhyIVote civic explainer
The office
A mayor’s real power is in the city charter. Strong-mayor systems: the mayor proposes the budget, hires department heads, and vetoes ordinances. Council-manager systems: a professional manager runs departments; the mayor often votes on the council and represents the city.
Las Vegas, New York, and Chicago are not the same job. Read the charter before comparing candidates across cities.
What they can change
- City service priorities: police, fire, sanitation, housing agencies the city actually runs.
- Appointments the charter allows.
- The proposed city budget — the council still votes.
- Advocacy with the county, state, and Washington.
Money they vote on
City budget: property tax the city levies, fees, and state/federal grants the city administers. Not the county levy, not the school district, not federal appropriations.
Who they can help — and who they cannot
City services, permits the city issues, local public safety the city runs. A mayor cannot rezone unincorporated county land, set state Medicaid rules, or hire a county sheriff.
