Monday marked the kick-off of Mayor Johnson's unprecedented campaign to transition the mayorship from a weak mayor to a strong mayor. The campaign needs over 32,000 petition signatures by Jan. 16 to make the change. Sacramento has previously operated under a "weak mayor" type of city government. The city council operates as the executive body as well as the legislative and the city manager - an unelected official - acts as the city's Chief Executive Officer. The mayor serves only ceremonial d... sarah Jerry Montoya 2009-02-08T08:36:53Z 2009-02-08T08:36:53Z

I got busy with work. Where is this issue now? And to reply to the previous, we elect the City Council who hires the City Manager. The City Manager is still accountable.

Jerry Montoya 2009-02-08T08:36:53Z Sarah Payne 2009-01-13T01:56:50Z 2009-01-13T01:56:50Z

My guess is that he ran for mayor for purposes of accountability. If Kevin Johnson was the city manager, he could do everything that he wants to do as a strong mayor, but without accountability. As an appointed rather than elected official, he wouldn't have to answer to the public for his decisions. Personally, I like the strong mayor initiative. Although some of the campaign tactics may be a little questionable (http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/2200/Strong_Mayor_Weak_Ethics), I would still rather the major decisions be made by someone who is directly accountable to the public than by someone who doesn't feel the pressure to answer to the public's demands.

Sarah Payne 2009-01-13T01:56:50Z Jerry Montoya 2009-01-12T22:36:23Z 2009-01-12T22:36:23Z

If Mr. Johnson wanted to be the City Manager, why didn't he apply for that position?

Jerry Montoya 2009-01-12T22:36:23Z Ryan Sharpe 2009-01-10T05:20:54Z 2009-01-10T05:20:54Z

The proposal seems nice overall, but man does it smell bad to have a city charter amendment drafted by a personal coterie and pushed without public input after only a month in office, especially since it will take effect pretty much immediately. Even state and federal legislators give themselves raises that take effect after they're re-elected to avoid getting called out for shenanigans. I don't think I can in good conscience support it as is. Give me the opportunity to vote for a strong mayor charter amendment and then for that first strong mayor, and you've got a deal. Give me the opportunity to vote for something that looks and smells like a power grab, noble though it is, and I'll walk away.

Ryan Sharpe 2009-01-10T05:20:54Z William Burg 2009-01-08T17:50:45Z 2009-01-08T17:50:45Z

So who plays the role of the Supreme Court?

William Burg 2009-01-08T17:50:45Z Kevin Johnson 2009-01-08T06:33:46Z 2009-01-08T06:33:46Z

Sarah is correct. It works just like the President/Congress, Governor/State Legislature. It's an executive/legislative system. The City Council actually will GAIN power.

Kevin Johnson 2009-01-08T06:33:46Z Kevin Johnson 2009-01-08T06:32:49Z 2009-01-08T06:32:49Z

I provided the link to the text above. The language is on the petition, which can be downloaded from the website

Kevin Johnson 2009-01-08T06:32:49Z Sarah Payne 2009-01-08T01:24:01Z 2009-01-08T01:24:01Z

Technically there already is a centralized authority in one person - the city manager. Kevin Johnson's proposal is to transition that existing authority from the unelected city manager to the elected mayor. The city council will lose some executive powers (like having primary control over the budget) but will still retain all legislative powers and approval/disproval rights.

Sarah Payne 2009-01-08T01:24:01Z Raoul Kleven 2009-01-07T22:19:38Z 2009-01-07T22:19:38Z

In theory, I'm very in favor of increasing the accountability of city officials, but I'm also a little wary about overly centralizing authority in one person. I'd like to see specifics on the changes, as well.

Raoul Kleven 2009-01-07T22:19:38Z William Burg 2009-01-07T17:41:01Z 2009-01-07T17:41:01Z

David: It's not a link to the proposal, but a link to the campaign website, with a brief question-and-answer document but nothing documenting the actual changes. The text to the proposal, meaning the specific changes, has not yet been provided. There's nothing on the City of Sacramento homepage about the changes, and a search for "charter" is not very helpful--is there a direct link on the city website to these proposed changes?

William Burg 2009-01-07T17:41:01Z David Watts Barton 2009-01-07T17:08:18Z 2009-01-07T17:08:18Z

Not to get too nit-picky about this, but Jeffrey Callison's show is actually called Insight, singular. And thank you Mr. Mayor, for posting the link to the proposal - twice! I am interested in who wrote the initiative, too, but I'd like to see the actual initiative itself discussed.

David Watts Barton 2009-01-07T17:08:18Z William Burg 2009-01-07T16:58:00Z 2009-01-07T16:58:00Z

I am very interested in who actually wrote this initiative and the proposed modifications to the charter. Can you provide any insight for the curious?

William Burg 2009-01-07T16:58:00Z Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:59:41Z 2009-01-07T08:59:41Z

http://www.reformsacramento.com/pdf/Sac_Init_CharterAmendment_WEB.pdf

Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:59:41Z Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:59:32Z 2009-01-07T08:59:32Z

http://www.reformsacramento.com/pdf/Sac_Init_CharterAmendment_WEB.pdf

Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:59:32Z Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:57:26Z 2009-01-07T08:57:26Z

It was drafted by my transition team. They looked at best practices from more than 15 cities across the U.S. The independent budget analyst component is similar to that of San Diego's.

Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:57:26Z Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:56:08Z 2009-01-07T08:56:08Z

You can find the initiative summary on the www.reformsacramento.com website. I understand there will be additional information up on that website in a few days. In the interim, you can visit the cityofsacramento.org and find additional information there. Appreciate the positive comments here, and the continuing dialogue on this proposal to modernize city government. We haven't had charter reform since the 1920s, and it's time Sacramento modernize its government so that it is accountable and nimble.

Kevin Johnson 2009-01-07T08:56:08Z Geoff Foley 2009-01-07T04:20:57Z 2009-01-07T04:20:57Z

Being able to read the actual proposal would be nice. On the surface I would side with a "strong" mayor. The idea of an unelected executive officer, not accountable to the people, doesn't appeal to me. I think it will provide greater accountability for the actions of the Mayor's administration. I also think that a Mayor that has a stronger position than merely ceremonial would have a stronger sense of responsibility and duty to the city.

Geoff Foley 2009-01-07T04:20:57Z William Burg 2009-01-07T02:19:29Z 2009-01-07T02:19:29Z

I'd really, really like to see the actual proposal. I'd also like to know who wrote it.

William Burg 2009-01-07T02:19:29Z Sarah Payne 2009-01-07T01:13:02Z 2009-01-07T01:13:02Z

I have yet to find a text document of the actual proposal. But, the Sacramentans for Accountability website (http://www.reformsacramento.com) has a lot of great information, including an initiative summary and a downloadable copy of the petition.

Sarah Payne 2009-01-07T01:13:02Z Ben Ilfeld 2009-01-07T00:44:41Z 2009-01-07T00:44:41Z

Do you have a link to the text of the actual proposal?

Ben Ilfeld 2009-01-07T00:44:41Z