City Manager vs. Mayor

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

A city manager is a hired executive officer of a municipality who works outside of the political realm to keep operations running smooth, while a mayor is an elected official who represents voters in any given city.

A city manager is generally appointed by a mayor or local council based on their education and experience in local government.

They often play a more behind-the-scenes role and they coordinate and oversee the activities of all city departments and provide direct staff assistance to city council members (including the mayor).

They are in charge of financial and budget management processes as well as city planning efforts. They will also conduct research, develop policies, and evaluate potential public programs.

A mayor is the top executive in a city, municipality, or town government. They oversee many public works departments and have many administrative and legislative responsibilities.

They are responsible for attending town council meetings, proposing (and debating) initiatives, and overseeing departments to make sure they are operating effectively. The mayor is also responsible for listening to their constituents and representing them effectively with other government entities.

There are many differences between a city manager and a mayor including how they are given the position.

Here are the key differences between a city manager and a mayor:

A city manager is expected to be non-partisan and not engage in political activities
A mayor is permitted to engage in political activities and is associated with a political party
A city manager is appointed or hired by the mayor
A mayor is an elected official