Christian Penichet-Paul

Mayors as Leaders(in crises)

“Things could be worse. I could be a mayor.”

“Can Strong Mayors Empower Weak Cities?” by Richard Schragger

Fragmentation of the mayor’s power through the council-manager structure (starting in 1900).

Mayor’s power is limited by horizontal and vertical forces.Horizontal: Executive power in most cities is fragmented.

Vertical: Federalism dominates a city’s relationship with the state and national government.Cities are dramatically affected by state and national policies,

but the relationship is not reciprocal. Mayor has direct competition for credit and avoidance of blame.

Schragger Point 1

Weak Mayor in Parochial City

Emphasizes a pragmatic, perhaps neoconservative, approach to urban problems. Reaction to the 1970s-social welfare urban policies.Fragmentation of council-manager pluralism makes

cities ungovernable. Influence of local, pro-business elites. Example: Michael Bloomberg (“managerial

competence”)

How do Mayor’s Strengthen their power?CharismaCoalition & Coordination

Schragger Point 12

The Strong-Mayor Movement

“The buck doesn’t stop here. See the city manager”Diffusion of political authority generates confusion and

political tension

Populist vision of the mayoralty that does not accept its weak constitutional status Gavin Newsom of San Francisco

“Civic republican” tradition views the city as the embodiment of the democratic polity Polity with collective identity and interests

Schragger Point 3

The Strong Mayor in the Democratic City

Elected in 1991, he inherited a fiscal crisisThe city had a $208 million budget shortfall for

FY1992, even though previous mayors raised taxes 19 times in the 1980s.

Reduced wage and benefit package rules (stood up to the unions)

Gradually privatized city services and facilities through competitive bidding.

Trait(s): Courage, Management

William Eggers

Ed Rendell in Philadelphia

Elected in 1988, he inherited a crisis of population flight and neighborhood breakdowns. Community organization and policing

programs. Instituted a state-funded program that enabled

low-income students to attend private schools.

Trait(s): Communication

William Eggers

John Norquist in Milwaukee

A typical Milwaukee neighborhood

Elected in 1991, he sought to create a model of “smaller, competitive government”Moved city services into the marketplace,

sometimes against the wishes of local Republicans

Rebuilt the city’s infrastructure Deregulated city codes, including zoning,

licensing provisions, and health and safety requirements

Traits(s): Vision

William Eggers

Stephen Goldsmith in Indianapolis

Communication (to the public)“They needed to hear from my heart where I

thought we were going”“Do things that show you’re not afraid”

Management (Horizontal)Maintain the operation of city services

Coordination (Vertical)Worked with political adversaries to ensure

emergency funding allocation for NYC

Leadership in Crisis

Mayoral Leadership in Crisis: Giuliani

The End