Back in July, I cautioned readers about managing their expectations when it came to the office of the mayor.
At the time I pointed out that it was a part-time job, paid as such, so the expectations should not be of electing a mayor who would then do full-time work. It was written at a time when we had a mayor who could put in full-time hours on part-time pay because of his current situation.
Fast-forward about six months and we now have a mayor who is putting in part-time hours for part-time pay, which seems only fair, but one who was swept into office on a wave of change and hope that would realistically require full-time work.
Thus it is no surprise that Coun. Barry Cunningham wants to examine moving the position of mayor from part-time to full-time. It’s something that has come up before and, in my view, is the right thing for the city at this time.
If you want a full-time mayor, you have to be willing to pay for it. And the work of leading our city is unquestionably a full-time job.