The mayor is the chief executive officer. They supervise all city officers and daily operations, making sure ordinances and laws are followed, and appoint key staff like the police chief, fire chief, city attorney, and department heads. They preside over all council meetings and cast a vote. The mayor can veto items passed by the council. The mayor also serves as the public face of the community, representing residents at official events.
Why it matters: This office matters because mayors help set the public tone and influence local priorities on utilities, streets, housing, law enforcement, planning, and city staffing or administration, depending on local structure. When you vote for mayor, you are choosing who directly controls how your city runs.