The next mayor

When it comes to political leadership, the mayor’s function is popular among those holding higher functions in the government. As the top executive of a city, municipality, or town, the next mayor must have a broad council of solidarity that aligns with his own perspective.

Leading the way: the next mayor takes the stage.
Leading the way: the next mayor takes the stage.

A mayor’s role and functions will depend on the legislation of their respective territories. In addition, the next mayor’s job will vary depending on the size, structure, and complexity of its territories.

What does it take to be the next mayor? Here, we will discuss the most important ones.

The pre-election program

What is it all about anyway? How can it help the voters as well as the candidates?

A pre-election program is a campaign that focuses on the importance of everyone’s participation in the electoral process. It is crucial that voters and candidates be knowledgeable about the election procedure. Through elections, citizens and voters can participate and hold audiences in their political parties.

The pre-election program is also vital for candidates. This makes them accountable for their promises and performance. This is where you can hear their platforms on how they would run the constituents and the city they are going to be in charge of.

Key skills for a mayor

To be a mayor takes a lot of distinct skills. The mayor’s job is complex, and it takes a lot of hard work to be an effective one. Here are some of the much-needed key skills for a mayor:

  • Good communication skills to be able to express himself clearly.
  • Decision-making skills
  • Economic development skills. A mayor who is a degree holder relevant to his function can execute plans for the economic growth of his community.
  • Empathy improves a mayor’s ability to understand his constituents. Putting his shoes on the others can help him address many issues.
  • Leadership. It is a critical skill to gauge a mayor’s ability to lead his territory.
  • Financial management skills are crucial to be able to identify budget and actual spending. A mayor must be good at allocating funds depending on the needs of his community.
  • Persuasiveness is an edge a mayor can use to convince investors to agree on certain proposals for the economic advantage of the city.
  • Politically savvy. This can help a mayor to achieve his and his constituents’ goals. A good understanding of political structure will get you more connections with other leaders.
  • Must know how to lead by example.

What does a mayor in Calgary do?

Calgary is a resilient city and is listed as one of the top 3 most livable cities in the world. So, what does a mayor in Calgary do?

The mayor in Calgary holds a dynamic function as an executive leader. He leads in preparing a master plan for his territory. The mayor builds the civic spirit and practices awareness.

Keeping an eye on all events and issues facing his territory is an advantage. To add, the mayor in Calgary must have the trust of his council. Working with the council will help the mayor address all concerns and create programs for the city.

Building a good relationship with the business community can help in making his programs successful. The mayor should support the business environment. This is most especially the promotion of tourism in Calgary.

Mayors and the business sector should work on the progress concerning infrastructure, education, and health systems altogether. The advancement in technology and improved structures should be initiated by a good leader.

Old Mayors in Calgary 

The first mayor elected was George Murdoch in 1884 when Calgary became a town. It was followed by George Clift King in 1886. To date, 37 mayors held the mayoralty position. Elections were conducted annually from 1884 to 1923. It was only in 1923 that Calgary mayors began serving a two-year term. However, in 1968 it was increased to three years and in 2013 the mayoral term became a four-year term. Read more about the history of mayors on our history page.