A mayor speech is a seven to nine minute persuasive speech that highlights the challenges of a city and calls on citizens to help solve those problems. Mayors are generally elected directly through a local-government election or appointed by council. They serve as ceremonial figureheads for official functions and may carry out some of the authority of council between meetings with approval from council. They are styled His or Her Worship whilst in office and may wear a mace and chain.
In 2017, mayors around the country focused their speeches on tackling homelessness, expanding affordable housing options and lowering crime. They also addressed national issues that impact their communities including efforts to boost civic engagement, programs that promote financial stability and the fight against climate change.
The word mayor derives from the Old French maire and shares its etymology with the military rank of major. In Australia, mayors are usually elected from within the council by direct universal suffrage for the position of mayor at a local-government meeting. Traditionally, the term pormestari’mayor’ or kunnanjohtaja ‘city manager’ has been used to describe the highest executive official in a municipality, although historically this title has referred to the head of the registry office or the court of the city (see borgmastare).
The mayor of Seattle, Washington is a ceremonial position that does not have any power or authority outside the limits of statutory law. However, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan’s State of the City address highlighted her efforts to expand access to housing and services for low-income families.