More Than Mayor or Manager : Campaigns to Change Form of Government in America's Large Cities

Different forms of city government are in widespread use across the United States. The two most common structures are the mayor-council form and the council-manager form. In many large U.S. cities, there have been passionate movements to change the structure of city governments and equally intense efforts to defend an existing structure. Charter change (or preservation) is supported to solve problems such as legislative gridlock, corruption, weak executive leadership, short-range policies, or ineffective delivery of services. Some of these cities changed their form of government through referendum while other cities chose to retain the form in use. More than Mayor or Manager offers in-depth case studies of fourteen large U.S. cities that have considered changing their form of government over the past two decades: St. Petersburg, Florida; Spokane, Washington; Hartford, Connecticut; Richmond, Virginia; San Diego, California; Oakland, California; Kansas City, Missouri; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dallas, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; El Paso, Texas; Topeka, Kansas; St. Louis, Missouri; and Portland, Oregon. The case studies shed light on what these constitutional contests teach us about different forms of government--the causes that support movements for change, what the advocates of change promised, what is at stake for the nature of elected and professional leadership and the relationship between leaders, and why some referendums succeeded while others failed. This insightful volume will be of special interest to leaders and interest groups currently considering or facing efforts to change the form of government as well as scholars in the field of urban studies. In-depth Case Studies Of 14 Large U.s. Cities That Have Considered Changing Their Form Of Government Over The Past Two Decades. The Case Studies Shed Light On What These Constitutional Contests Teach Us About Different Forms Of Government--the Causes That Support Movements For Change, What The Advocates Of Change Promised, What Is At Stake For The Nature Of Elected And Professional Leadership And The Relationship Between Leaders, And Why Some Referendums Succeeded While Others Failed--page 4 Of Cover. 1. Introduction : Framing Constitutional Contests In Large Cities / James H. Svara And Douglas J. Watson -- 2. St. Petersburg : Easing Into A Strong-mayor Government / J. Edwin Benton, Donald C. Menzel, And Darryl Paulson -- 3. Spokane : Development Debate Sparks Government Debate / Wendy L. Hassett -- 4. Hartford : Politics Trumps Professionalism / Wendy L. Hassett -- 5. Richmond : Implementation Of And Experience With Strong-mayor Form Of Government / Nelson Wikstrom -- 6. San Diego : Switch From Reform To Representative / Glen W. Sparrow -- 7. Oakland : The Power Of Celebrity? Explaining Strong-mayor Charter Reform / Megan Mullin -- 8. Kansas City : The Evolution Of Council-manager Government / Kimberly Nelson And Curtis Wood -- 9. Grand Rapids : A Lack Of Enthusiasm For Change In The Council-manager Form / Eric S. Zeemering -- 10. Dallas : The Survival Of Council-manager Government / Karen M. Jarrell -- 11. Cincinnati : Charter Conflict And Consensus / John T. Spence -- 12. El Paso : Professionalism Over Politics In The Shift To Council-manager Government / Larry Terry -- 13. Topeka : Council-manager Redux Finding Balance In The Politics-administration Dichotomy / R. Paul Bataglio Jr. -- 14. St. Louis : Dejà Vu All Over Again-charter Reform Fails / Robert Cropf, Todd Swanstrom, And Scott Krummenacher -- 15. Portland : Keep Portland Weird, Retaining The Commission Form Of Government / Doug Morgan, Masami Nishishiba, And Dan Vizzini -- 16. Conclusion : Distinct Factors And Common Themes In Change Of Form Referenda / James H. Svara And Douglas J. Watson James H. Svara And Douglas J. Watson, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

Different forms of city government are in widespread use across the United States. The two most common structures are the mayor-council form and the council-manager form. In many large U.S. cities, there have been passionate movements to change the structure of city governments and equally intense efforts to defend an existing structure. Charter change (or preservation) is supported to solve problems such as legislative gridlock, corruption, weak executive leadership, short-range policies, or ineffective delivery of services. Some of these cities changed their form of government through referendum while other cities chose to retain the form in use.

More than Mayor or Manager offers in-depth case studies of fourteen large U.S. cities that have considered changing their form of government over the past two decades: St. Petersburg, Florida; Spokane, Washington; Hartford, Connecticut; Richmond, Virginia; San Diego, California; Oakland, California; Kansas City, Missouri; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dallas, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; El Paso, Texas; Topeka, Kansas; St. Louis, Missouri; and Portland, Oregon. The case studies shed light on what these constitutional contests teach us about different forms of government—the causes that support movements for change, what the advocates of change promised, what is at stake for the nature of elected and professional leadership and the relationship between leaders, and why some referendums succeeded while others failed. This insightful volume will be of special interest to leaders and interest groups currently considering or facing efforts to change the form of government as well as scholars in the field of urban studies.