Proposition 2: Strong Mayor

Spokane city government is adrift, says attorney Steve Eugster.

He has a plan, he says, to get a leader aboard.

Eugster is pushing a strong-mayor initiative that asks residents to toss out the city manager in favor of a mayor who serves as the city’s top administrator.

A strong mayor who can appoint department heads and veto legislation has the power to move the city forward - power that’s sorely lacking in the current city-manager system, he says.

“What this community needs is new leadership, people sincere about coming into public life, who have the power to do something once they get there,” Eugster says.

Critics of the plan say it puts too much power into the hands of one person.

“There are aspects of this plan which provide so much power without checks and balances,” says Councilwoman Roberta Greene, the measure’s most outspoken critic.

The strong mayor initiative goes before voters Sept. 17.

Under Spokane’s current system - in place since 1960 - the city manager runs everyday business such as managing the budget, and hiring and firing. The manager takes policy direction from the council.

A mayor now earns more than other council members - $30,000 a year to their $18,000 - but the title is strictly ceremonial. Mayor Jack Geraghty has no more power than his colleagues.

Eugster’s strong-mayor plan operates similarly to the federal government, with the mayor as president, the council as Congress.

The mayor would perform the day-to-day duties of the current city manager or hire someone to do them. The mayor also could appoint department heads and three assistants in each department.

The mayor would make at least $80,000 and no less than the highest-paid city employee. To Eugster, that sends the message the mayor is the most powerful employee.

The mayor could veto the seven-member council’s decisions, but five council votes could override the veto.

Eugster says his plan would force city leaders to be accountable. A public unhappy with Spokane’s direction could toss the mayor out of office.

“The only way to get really responsible government is to have leaders directly elected by the people,” says Bill First, a public relations consultant who favors the strong mayor plan.

City manager supporters don’t see it that way.

A council unhappy with the city’s direction can fire a city manager any day of the week, says Catherine Tuck Parrish of the International City County Management Association in Washington, D.C.

To get rid of a bad mayor, voters must wait for a new election or go through the often-arduous process of recall.

Besides, Parrish says, a city manager is trained to deal with the complex job of running city government: utility service, budget management, fire and police operations.

Critics say Eugster’s plan is an open invitation to patronage, with the mayor hiring buddies and relatives for top posts.

Eugster counters that Civil Service protects against patronage. He adds that leaders will hire the best people because they want their cities to run smoothly.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PROPOSITION 2 Proposition 2, the strong mayor initiative, makes sweeping changes to the current Spokane city government. Under the plan: The mayor would serve as the city’s top administrator or appoint someone to serve as administrator. The mayor would be the city’s highest paid employee. The mayor couldn’t hold an outside job. Seven council members would earn $30,000 annually. Five would be elected by district, two at-large. A council member couldn’t be absent more than four consecutive meetings before the seat was declared vacant. The mayor would not attend weekly council meetings. The council would elect a president who will preside over meetings.