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A Shining City Council on A Hill

It's official – there is a new name on the big door in city hall. Dwight Jones has been sworn in as mayor, and expectations are high. The strong mayor system was re-instituted in 2005 so Mr. Jones has only Douglas Wilder's administration as a precedent. Whether it will serve as an object lesson or as a template is as yet unknown.

But if Mr. Wilder's aggressive conception of a strong mayor revealed anything it is that city council is comparatively weak. Council has not served as intended, as a check on the power of the executive.

Some might argue that that was mostly a matter of personality clashes between the willful mayor and council, whose members might be charitably described as … quirky.

Mr. Wilder may be partially excused for pushing the limits of executive power in view of the fundamental nature of our city council. The legislative branch (council) is not co-equal with the executive, at least not in its current iteration.

The change to a strong mayor system in 2005 was an important and necessary step, but the power of the mayor and that of city council is not proportionate.

Now that the duties and responsibilities of the executive branch have been, shall we say, rather robustly explored, it has become obvious just how undernourished is the conceptual framework of the legislative branch.

It's time for an overhaul of the mechanics of our city's governance, time for Richmond to become a real city. It's time we got serious about facing the many problems plaguing our fair hometown.

The mayoralty is considered important enough to be a full-time job, salary commensurate with the office's responsibilities. Council normally meets twice a month, by any standard a part-time job.

If mayoring, policing our streets, picking up our trash, and pouring drinks for thirsty citizens are full-time jobs, why, one wonders, is running the city not so deemed.

Who can say with a straight face that the city's business can truly and adequately be dispatched in two meetings per month? Who are we kidding?

Let's face facts – in the recent past, city council has not been responsive to the needs of Richmond's residents.

On issue after issue – the downtown master plan, the ball diamond, the school board fiasco, flooding in Battery Park, the condition of roads and general contentiousness between the mayor and council – Richmond has not been well served by the feckless efforts of council.  

Past scandals involving council members have been rich fodder for budding comedians, but they haven't improved the city's image any. To put it bluntly, the system is broken. The wheels have come off.

The solution is simple and obvious: being a councilperson should be a full-time gig, with salary to match.

This would send a message that running the city is serious business. It would also serve to improve the quality of potential candidates.

There is more than enough work to be done addressing local issues within each district, as well as the concerns of the city at large.

The balance between the executive and legislative branches of city government must be rejiggered. Managing the affairs of Richmond requires the full-time attention of both the mayor and council.

There is no better description of what Mr. Jones faces as mayor than this scenario found on WTVR's website : "At that time [the public inauguration ceremony] Richmonders will be able to meet with their new mayor, and talk with him about the challenged [sic] facing the city."  

Indeed.