What this article misses is that the Mayor position is not separate from the council. It is council position #1. The primary work of the position is the same as the other six councilmembers. The mayor's position (in Olympia and Lacey) just adds a few duties like signing certain documents.
Very few people know this. Most people seem to think that all mayors are chief executives (like Tumwater). That is the traditional way city governments are organized. But in the council-manager form of government the mayor is just another councilmember and the city manager is the chief executive, reporting to the council.
Even the Voters Pamphlet gets this wrong.
Bob Jacobs
Please explain the inappropriate content below.
