HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinal_Mayoral_Vote
Charter Review Committee
Mayoral Vote
Date: January, 2005
Sub Committee Members: Hal Cloer, Donald Montgomery
Issue Statement:
Should the Mayor have a vote on all matters before the Council or vote only to break ties?
Background:
The present Ashland City charter states that "The Mayor shall not be entitled to vote on any
ordinance or measure before the Council except in the case of a tie vote, in which case he/she
shall have the power to vote, and must vote either in the affirmative or in the negative" This
provision was incorporated into the 1970 revision to the charter. In contrast, the 2004 edition of
the Model Charter For Oregon Cities provides for the Mayor to be a voting member of the
Council, with no veto authority.
In a 2003 survey of municipalities conducted by the ICMA and reported in its Municipal
Yearbook -2003, it was found that in a majority of the reporting cities (55%), the Mayor can vote
on all issues put before the Council. However, in just over one-third (35%) of the reporting cities
they restrict the Mayor to a tie-breaker role - and this was found most often among cities with
populations below 10,000. But not allowing the Mayor to vote at all is characteristic of larger,
central cities with the mayor-council forms of structure.
Pros and Cons:
Vote On All Matters
Pros:
Permits the Mayor to exercise political leadership and influence on matters before the
Council.
Permits the voice of the Mayors' constituency to be heard on matters before the Council.
Cons:
May
preclude any charter provision for Mayor to exercise veto authority.
Vote Only To Break Ties
Pros:
Permits a charter provision for Mayor to veto matters decided by the Council.
Cons:
1
May preclude charter provision for Mayor to vote on matters before the Council.
Budget Implications:
None
Summary:
The present Ashland City charter provides for the Mayor to vote on matters before the Council
when there is a tie vote. This provision precludes the Mayor from voting on all matters before the
Council. A charter change to permit the Mayor to vote on all matters before the Council would
provide the Mayor the opportunity to advance his political agenda as the political leader of the
community. However, such a provision would preclude the Mayor from exercising any veto
authority.
2