Different forms of city government are in widespread use across the United States. The two most common structures are the mayor-council form and the council-manager form. In many large U.S. cities, there have been passionate movements to change the structure of city governments and equally intense efforts to defend an existing structure. Charter change (or preservation) is supported to solve problems such as legislative gridlock, corruption, weak executive leadership, short-range policies, or ineffective delivery of services. Some of these cities changed their form of government through referendum while other cities chose to retain the form in use. More than Mayor or Manager offers in-depth case studies of fourteen large U.S. cities that have considered changing their form of government over the past two decades: St. Petersburg, Florida; Spokane, Washington; Hartford, Connecticut; Richmond, Virginia; San Diego, California; Oakland, California; Kansas City, Missouri; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dallas, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; El Paso, Texas; Topeka, Kansas; St. Louis, Missouri; and Portland, Oregon. The case studies shed light on what these constitutional contests teach us about different forms of government—the causes that support movements for change, what the advocates of change promised, what is at stake for the nature of elected and professional leadership and the relationship between leaders, and why some referendums succeeded while others failed. This insightful volume will be of special interest to leaders and interest groups currently considering or facing efforts to change the form of government as well as scholars in the field of urban studies.

More than Mayor or Manager offers in-depth case studies of fourteen large U.S. cities that have considered changing their form of government over the past two decades. The case studies shed light on what these constitutional contests teach us about different forms of governmentùthe causes that support movements for change, what the advocates of change promised, what is at stake for the nature of elected and professional leadership and the relationship between leaders, and why some referendums succeeded while others failed. --

Providing a critical examination of government in American cities, this volume presents the innovative view that mayors in council-manager cities are better positioned to develop positive leadership than their peers in mayor-council cities. This book develops a deeper understanding of city government institutions with an examination of groundbreaking conceptual model of leadership and how it relates to local government forms. Based on the observation of mayors who have served in the past decade in cities ranging in size from 1500 to 1.5 million, fourteen case studies evaluate factors that contribute to effective leadership and highlight emerging issues faced by today‘s cities.

The partisan and ideological polarization associated with federal government plagues states and localities too, bringing with it significant implications for public policy and intergovernmental relations. The trusted and proven Governing States and Localities guides students through these issues and continues its focus on the role economic and budget pressures play. With their engaging journalistic writing and crisp storytelling, Kevin B. Smith and Alan Greenblatt employ a comparative approach to explain how and why states and localities are both similar and different in institutional structure, culture, history, economy, geography, and demographics. A great blend of high-quality academic analysis and the latest scholarship, the Sixth Edition is thoroughly updated to account for such major developments as state vs. federal conflicts over immigration reform, gun control, and voter rights; health and education reforms aimed at improving the effectiveness of state and local government service delivery; and the lingering effects of the Great Recession.

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- CONTENTS -- Acknowledgments -- About the Contributors -- List of Figures and Tables -- 1 Introduction: Beyond Reform-Leadership, Change, and the Role of Innovation -- PART I Ecology of Public Sector Innovation and Performance Literature -- 2 Reinventing and Redesigning Local Government -- 3 Innovation and Organizational Survival Research -- PART II Governance and New Frontiers in Public Policy -- 4 Cooperative/Collaborative Governance in a Networked Age -- 5 Chaos Theory, Disaster Policy, and Response: Achieving the New Normal -- PART III Leadership and Change in Governing Systems -- 6 Public Sector Compensation-School District Superintendents: Are We Getting Our Monies' Worth? -- 7 Implementing an Innovative Dream of Change: Lessons From Houston Community Colleges -- 8 Citizen Advisory Bodies: New Wine in Old Bottles? -- 9 Local Government Reform, Convergence, and the Hybrid Model -- PART IV Social Justice and Equality -- 10 Support for Gender Equality Duty Strategies Among Local Government Officials in Texas -- 11 Can Innovative Leadership Improve Community and Police Relationships? Lessons Learned From Youngstown, Ohio -- 12 Choice Points as a Framework for Decision-Making -- 13 Conclusion: Scenarios and Common Themes in Leadership and Change -- Index

Managing Local Government: An Essential Guide for Municipal and County Managers offers a practical introduction to the changing structure, forms, and functions of local governments. Taking a metropolitan management perspective, authors Kimberly Nelson and Carl W. Stenberg explain U.S. local government within historical context and provide strategies for effective local government management and problem solving. Real-life scenarios and contemporary issues illustrate the organization and networks of local governments; the roles, responsibilities, and relationships of city and county managers; and the dynamics of the intergovernmental system. Case studies and discussion questions in each chapter encourage critical analysis of the challenges of collaborative governance. Unlike other books on the market, this text’s combined approach of theory and practice encourages students to enter municipal and county management careers and equips them with tools to be successful from day one.