At a recent debate of Charter Commission candidates, I was disappointed that several candidates wanted to create a strong mayor with sole responsibility for daily city management. Apparently upset about some recent recommendations from the city manager and decisions of the City Council, they believe that the solution lies in ending the city manager position.

A city manager is an employee of the city who reports to the City Council. The city manager must carry out the will of the City Council. Daily management of a city is a complex task requiring professional training, and is the primary method of urban governance. Politicians rarely have this training and skill set.

An elected representative City Council is by nature a more democratic form of government than a single individual such as a mayor, because City Council members represent more diverse sections of the city and require collaboration to function well together.

I understand that the People First Charter group is hoping that a strong mayor would be a progressive, and override less progressive ideas coming from other elected council members. But there is no guarantee that this mayor would be progressive, and strong powers could be exclusionary of other opinions: in other words, dictatorial. Look to other cities (or countries) that have so-called strong leaders.

It may be that there is a way to advance the work of this Charter Commission in a positive way, but it will not happen if candidates have a pre-set agenda to destroy a workable, professional and representative method of city governance.

Kip DeSerres
Portland

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