Letter to the editor: Critic of strong-mayor system misses the point
Altering the makeup of Portland’s government is no silver bullet, but it will help give Portland residents more say in their own future.
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Re: “Commentary: A cautionary tale for Portland about ‘strong’ mayors” (April 15):
Jon Hinck’s “cautionary tale” of the potential perils of electing a strong mayor misses the forest for the trees. The argument for altering the makeup of our city government doesn’t hinge on the belief that doing so will automatically achieve positive reform; rather, it lays the groundwork for the arduous process of instituting and enshrining the policies that Portlanders want. An elected mayor is accountable to the people – an unelected city manager is not.