These Pasadena voter guides for the March 5 primary election were created in partnership with The Courier, an independent publication produced and run by Pasadena City College students.
What does the mayor do?
In Pasadena, the mayor is an at-large member of the city council, which means they represent the city as a whole while the seven other council members represent specific districts.
Because they are effectively a voting member of the council, it also means they need to get other members on board with any policies they hope to enact.
The mayor presides over Pasadena City Council meetings and has a number of ceremonial responsibilities. They also represent Pasadena on the state, national and international levels for legislative advocacy and lobbying.
Here are some of the things the mayor has a say on as a member of the city council:
- Setting city policies and passing local laws
- Imposing and regulating city taxes
- Hiring and firing the city manager (Pasadena has what’s called a council-manager form of government, in which the city manager holds a lot of power, including proposing the city budget, so appointing them is a big responsibility)
- Hiring and firing the city attorney, city prosecutor, and city clerk
- Authorizing public improvements
- Approving city contracts
- Adopting traffic regulations
- Appointing other council members and the mayor to city committees
More Voter Guides
How to evaluate judges
- L.A. Superior Court: There are more than two dozen judges up for election or reelection.
- Judge ratings: Understanding how the L.A. County Bar Association evaluates judicial candidates — and how it can help you cast your vote.
Head to LAist’s Voter Game Plan for guides to the rest of your ballot including:
- Pasadena City Council: Five of the seven seats are on the ballot.
- L.A. County Board of Supervisors: Three of the…
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