As a former city manager of Portland, I would like to respond to an Aug. 19 article regarding the city charter and the upcoming mayoral race (“Portland elected officials criticize mayor, endorse rival”).

By way of background, I was an active participant in the charter changes that took place in 2010.

I supported those changes because I believed that the old system of annually rotating mayors created a political and policy vacuum that was detrimental to Portland’s future. As Portland has developed over recent years, our urban environment has cried out for local policy leadership and solutions.

I believe that the Charter Commission struck an excellent balance among the roles of the city manager, the City Council and the newly elected position of mayor.

Sadly, just five years later, some members of the City Council are questioning the wisdom of the charter changes and are suggesting that Mayor Michael Brennan is not providing the leadership to make them work. I strongly disagree with their viewpoints.

I would remind these City Council members that the Charter Commission put forward the concept of a “policy mayor” who would have “substantial influence over the policy direction of the city.”

By these standards of measurement, I believe that Michael Brennan has served as an outstanding mayor.

He has provided exceptional policy leadership in the areas of economic development, education, immigration and intergovernmental relations. He has fostered community involvement and activism, and he has worked with many diverse groups in a cooperative and constructive manner.

Mayor Brennan has been done a remarkable job. His policy leadership is exactly what was envisioned by the charter changes in 2010 and supported by a majority of Portland citizens.

He has earned our trust and respect, and deserves to be re-elected as mayor.

Tim Honey

South Portland

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