Mayor

What You Do

There are approximately 1,400 Mayors in the US serving cities and towns with populations larger than 30,000. A mayor is the chief executive of a city or town, overseeing the daily operations of local government. Most mayors work closely with their respective city and town councils to propose a legislative agenda. In some cases, mayors also serve as a member of their town or city council. Check out this resource to learn more about Mayors.

“We have to build a future that we want to see in a more reflective democracy, and that’s going to start with us.”

Gabriella Cazares-Kelly
County Recorder, Pima County, AZ

Responsibilities

Mayors are the top executive for their jurisdictions. They make policy recommendations to the council, veto legislation and ordinances passed by the council, break tied votes, appoint staff to lead local departments, draft and propose a city budget, and oversee the city’s day-to-day operations including public service departments like public safety, sanitation, and parks and recreation. They are often the public face of the city and represent the city in the press or in national or international situations.

Mayors run for office at the same time as at least some of the city/town council members. A Mayor with a good working relationship with the city/town council stands a greater chance of success than one with an adversarial relationship.

Helpful Skills

Roots in the community and a record of achievement or involvement is essential. Knowledge of and familiarity with the constituency is helpful. Sound communication skills and executive leadership capability are helpful. Some basic accounting, budgeting and negotiation skills will be useful.

Responsibilities

Helpful Skills

Elected mayors serving a constituency of 30,000 or more are usually serving in full-time positions. They are responsible for the day-to-day operations of their jurisdictions. Mayors have full-time staff and direct reports of many departments, including police, fire, emergency services, welfare, highway and public works, water and sewer, and parks and recreation. Mayors generally earn between $40,000 and $100,000 annually depending on the jurisdiction.

Mayors work long hours, and are very visible to constituents in the city. America does have mayors serving in smaller towns and even villages that are elected, but not full time. Generally with constituencies less than 30,000, small town mayors fulfill the same duties and roles as the larger city mayors. Most often, small town mayors have hired managers who deal with the day-to-day operation of the jurisdiction.

Mayoral campaigns are proportional in size and resources to the jurisdictions they run in. Running for Mayor in Atlanta is likely a 100 hour a week job, in Milwaukee it’s likely 60 hours a week, and in D’Lo Mississippi it might take 10 hours a week. The number of voters a candidate needs to persuade will dictate the amount of time and money needed for success. Larger constituencies mean bigger bank accounts and more hands to shake! Smaller campaigns can rely on volunteers and grassroots organizing while bigger jurisdictions will require expensive paid media and paid staff.