McClatchy DC Logo

Commentary: Johnson has weak start as Sacramento mayor | McClatchy Washington Bureau

×
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletters
    • Subscriber Services

    • All White House
    • Russia
    • All Congress
    • Budget
    • All Justice
    • Supreme Court
    • DOJ
    • Criminal Justice
    • All Elections
    • Campaigns
    • Midterms
    • The Influencer Series
    • All Policy
    • National Security
    • Guantanamo
    • Environment
    • Climate
    • Energy
    • Water Rights
    • Guns
    • Poverty
    • Health Care
    • Immigration
    • Trade
    • Civil Rights
    • Agriculture
    • Technology
    • Cybersecurity
    • All Nation & World
    • National
    • Regional
    • The East
    • The West
    • The Midwest
    • The South
    • World
    • Diplomacy
    • Latin America
    • Investigations
  • Podcasts
    • All Opinion
    • Political Cartoons

  • Our Newsrooms

Opinion

Commentary: Johnson has weak start as Sacramento mayor

The Sacramento Bee

    ORDER REPRINT →

January 09, 2009 01:59 PM

This editorial appeared in The Sacramento Bee.

Kevin Johnson is not the mayor of a city with a strong mayor system – yet. And even if voters approve his initiative to change Sacramento's city charter, he will need five votes on the Sacramento City Council to get anything approved.

By taking his strong mayor initiative directly to the voters without first consulting his colleagues on the council, Johnson demonstrated a disregard for them that is almost breathtaking and is surely ill-advised. Antagonizing council members will not help establish the strong relationship that the mayor has said he wants to develop with the council over time. It will not help Johnson move this city forward.

Also, in bypassing the council and failing to give them the simple courtesy of a heads-up on his far-reaching initiative, Johnson has picked a fight that he didn't need to pick. Many of his fellow council members may welcome this proposal. Some of them have chafed under the constraints of the current council-manager form of government. While the charter change gives added power and authority to the mayor, it gives council members significant additional authority as well.

SIGN UP

For example, under the Johnson proposal, the mayor would have the power to appoint all city department heads. The council would have to confirm those appointments with a majority vote. That's authority they have not had in the past. The council would also elect its own president, who would set council agendas and preside over meetings, much as the mayor does now.

To read the complete editorial, visit The Sacramento Bee.

  Comments  

Videos

“It’s not mine,” Pompeo says of New York Times op-ed

Trump and Putin shake hands at G20 Summit

View More Video

Trending Stories

Fatalities from police chases climbing, could be higher than records indicate

February 21, 2019 12:00 AM

Vice President Mike Pence will go to Colombia to demand Maduro step down

February 21, 2019 10:07 AM

Mitch McConnell pitches Kentucky’s Kelly Craft as Trump’s UN ambassador

February 21, 2019 11:50 AM

Gov. Matt Bevin dismisses his low poll numbers, welcomes Trump’s help

February 22, 2019 11:06 AM

‘Wide open race’ and open wallets in Kansas after Pompeo rules out 2020 Senate run

February 21, 2019 05:00 PM

Read Next

Trump’s foreign policy is pushing allies into China and Russia’s waiting arms

Opinion

Trump’s foreign policy is pushing allies into China and Russia’s waiting arms

By Markos Kounalakis

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 14, 2019 06:26 PM

The United States now watches agog as, one-by-one, the global chess pieces get moved and America keeps losing its partners and its pawns.

KEEP READING

MORE OPINION

Parkland massacre riveted us in anguish, yet we still don’t act

Opinion

Parkland massacre riveted us in anguish, yet we still don’t act

February 14, 2019 05:07 PM
President Trump’s not-so-carefully considered decisions have consequences

Opinion

President Trump’s not-so-carefully considered decisions have consequences

February 12, 2019 06:00 AM
Quest for the Fountain of Youth remains a continually updated story

Opinion

Quest for the Fountain of Youth remains a continually updated story

February 07, 2019 06:04 PM
Trump is putting the U.S. on a refreshing new foreign policy path

Opinion

Trump is putting the U.S. on a refreshing new foreign policy path

February 05, 2019 09:34 AM
Small farms in the Midwest can heal the environment and prosper with ‘Green New Deal’

Opinion

Small farms in the Midwest can heal the environment and prosper with ‘Green New Deal’

February 04, 2019 04:18 PM
Brexit aside, Poland and Italy are Europe’s latest troublemakers

Opinion

Brexit aside, Poland and Italy are Europe’s latest troublemakers

January 31, 2019 06:31 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

McClatchy Washington Bureau App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Newsletters
Learn More
  • Customer Service
  • Securely Share News Tips
  • Contact Us
Advertising
  • Advertise With Us
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story