Elmhurst Weekly: A New Vision of Elmhurst

The City Manager type of municipal structure is a form of government designed to vest day-to-day decision making in that person, not the mayor. The City Manager form is the system of local government that combines the political leadership of elected officials in the form of a city council, with the strong managerial experience of an appointed and hired professional city manager. This type of local government establishes a representative system where governing power is concentrated in the elected aldermen and where the council hires a professionally trained manager to oversee the delivery of public services on a day-to-day basis. For years that approach worked well.

As a city, more recently we've found out what happens when a person tries to exert more power than he actually has as mayor. The mayor has an important role, for sure. Now that voters spoke so clearly against the dual elected office concept, we can choose a new leader with a new vision. 

So what Elmhurst needs in a new mayor is someone who understands and respects the limits of the office of mayor and thrives in that role. Mayors in city manager communities are key political leaders and policy developers. In the case of the city council, the mayor is responsible for soliciting citizen views in forming these policies and interpreting them to the public. It takes a leader of particular skill and sensitivity to bring all the sides together. It takes a leader that respects the limits of governing power. I am that type of leader.

Elmhurst needs someone like me who is going to reach out and be a coalition builder, not someone who is pushing an undisclosed agenda. Elmhurst needs a person that will help our new city manager to perform his duties in that professional role.

Urgently, we need someone who will work for all our residents to get things done. I will bring people together. We need someone who will push an agenda that is inclusive of all the stakeholders here in Elmhurst, not just the few. At the end of the day, we need a problem solver, a coalition builder. And more than anything else, we need to return honesty and integrity to Elmhurst city government!  As your mayor, I am committed to make that happen and I have key proposals that I will bring within the first 100 days of my administration. Read more about those at www.mullliner4mayor.com