austin

Austin

boise

Boise

chicago

Chicago

denver

Denver

houston

Houston

lasvegas

Las Vegas

madison

Madison

nashville

Nashville

philly

Philly

pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

portland

Portland

saltlake

Salt Lake

We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Salt Lake

Highlighting people/organizations doing cool things in Salt Lake City.

Shoutout to City Cast Salt Lake lead producer Emily Means for writing this handy-dandy explainer.

We’re barreling toward the November election, and at the top of the Salt Lake City municipal ticket is the mayoral race. This election season has 

, but setting politics aside: What does the mayor actually do? Let’s explore the role of our city’s top elected official.


What kind of mayor does Salt Lake City have?

 in Utah. In Salt Lake City, we have a council-mayor system. The mayor and council are separate but equal branches, with the mayor acting as the executive branch and 

. You might also hear this called a “strong mayor” 

Mayors serve four-year terms. The current mayor is Erin Mendenhall, who 

Think of the mayor as the CEO of Salt Lake City. They set the vision and direction for the city.


As part of that vision, the mayor puts forth a 

, which the city council then analyzes, discusses, potentially amends, 

. Additionally, the mayor appoints department heads, who help execute city initiatives.


 and can issue executive orders. We saw Mayor Mendenhall exercise these powers when she issued a 

 of the homeless resource centers last winter.


Besides that, there’s the (sometimes) fun stuff, like being an ambassador for the city. You might see the mayor at ribbon cuttings or groundbreakings, meeting with dignitaries, and making connections with other government leaders. In some ways, we rely on our mayor to be the city’s chief champion.


! In it, she says her inbox is “open for any feedback or suggestions.” Send the mayor an email at 

, and those liaisons have been assigned to each council district. They hold office hours for you to drop in and say hi, complain about potholes, petition for more whale art, and talk about the real issues and opportunities you see for your community.

We’re barreling toward the November election, and at the top of the Salt Lake City municipal ticket is the mayoral race. This election season has been a bit contentious, but setting politics aside: What does the mayor actually do? Let’s explore the role of our city’s head honcho.

Community Spotlight

What Does the Mayor Do?