Folks who criticize the mayor's leadership style need to remember that Minneapolis is one of only 5 or 6 cities about our size which still has a weak mayor/strong council form of government. Most have rejected it in favor of the strong mayor concept, which is the form of government in St. Paul. Under this form of government, the mayor about as much power as your average Lutheran minister. --She can recommend Charter Dept Heads (Police, Fire, City Coordinator, Public Works, etc.) --She prepares and presents the budget --She gives the State of the City Speech --She can veto any action taken by the City Council and the Park Board All Department Heads except for Police Chief and Civil Rights Director report to the Council, not the Mayor. Hiring decisions are made by the City Council from a slate of candidates prepared by the mayor. The mayor cannot enact a rule or law';she can only approve what the City Council has already approved. The mayor shares power with the members of the Council. In this city, mayoral power is the power of the bully pulpit, the ability to build coalitions, invite, inveigle, cajole, negotiate, and making sure he/she has adequate support on the City Council for city-wide initiatives. (Our "strong" council system means the mayor deals with thirteen differing political agendas.) Sharon Sayles Belton has the personal and political skills to this difficult job. She routinely brings disparate sides together to come up with solutions. (Remember the hospitality workers strike?) She creates partnerships with business, nonprofits and the gazillion levels of government, boards, and panels. She was quoted in the paper as saying "I'm a workhorse, not a showhorse." This is fortunate because we have the most exhausting form of government in the country. DonFraser had very similar skills and they worked very much to the city's advantage. An effort to change the city's government to a strong mayor form was on the ballot twice, I think (the last during Fraser's term and he was a strong supporter of it and Stenvigs?) and was rejected both times. We Minnesotans apparently like "keeping things vague" as Judy Collins would say (or sing). So Sharon Sayles Belton is far from a "do nothing" mayor. It's just that bluster, taking credit for everything, and pounding one's shoe on the table doesn't work when your power must lie in cooperation, coalition building, and sharing recognition. I think the mayor's skills and energy DO rightfully place her in the ranks of the 10 most powerful African American women. And as Mr. Shapiro said about her leadership in the return to community schools, I think the mayor is "courageous." Look at the improvements in the city over the last eight years. There were decisions, choices, partnerships,advocacy, and planning behind these changes for the better--and a mayor working tirelessly to make it happen. Jude Poseley Lowry Hill East _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
