When the public hears the term “mayor,” people often think of an individual who is paid handsomely for serving, the head of local government who makes all final decisions.
NOTE TO READERS: “City Government 101” is an ongoing weekly series debuting in May 2023 that highlights different aspects of municipal government as it pertains to Columbus, Nebraska, in hopes to provide information on how the City of Columbus operates. Please send questions and suggestions to ColumbusGovMedia@columbus.ne.us.
When the public hears the term “mayor,” people often think of an individual who is paid handsomely for serving, the head of local government who makes all final decisions.
It’s true that a mayor is considered the top executive in a city, municipality or town government. The mayor is commonly a part of the town council, serving in a leadership position for meetings. But the powers afforded to a mayor can be different based on the structure of the local government.
In the case of Columbus, Nebraska, the City operates under a council-administrator municipal government system. Under this system, the mayor and the Columbus City Council appoint a city administrator that has administrative authority. In this form of government, the executive authority of the mayor is less expansive and more power is shared with the council.
The mayor is elected to serve a four-year term of office, according to City Code.
The mayor’s responsibilities include:
- Presiding at all the City Council meetings and voting only on any such matter when the mayor’s vote will provide the additional vote required to create a number of votes equal to a majority of the number of Members elected to the City Council.
- Superintending control of all the officers and affairs of the City and shall take care that the State and City law are complied with.
- Can administer oaths and shall sign the commissions and appointments of all the officers appointed in the City, such as the city administrator, city council members, city attorney, city engineer and city finance director, as well as committees.
- Has the ability to approve or veto any ordinance passed by the City Council and to approve or veto any order, bylaw, resolution, award of or vote to enter into any contract or the allowance of any claim; provided, that any ordinance, order, bylaw, resolution, award or vote to enter into any contract or the allowance of any claim vetoed by the mayor may be passed over the mayor’s veto by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to the City Council (If the mayor neglects or refuses to sign any ordinance, order, bylaw, resolution, award or vote to enter into any contract or the allowance of any claim and returns the same with the mayor’s objection in writing at the next regular meeting of the City Council, the same shall become law without the mayor’s signature).
- Can veto any item or items of any appropriation bill and approve the remainder thereof.
- Can have the power after the conviction of any person to remit fines and forfeitures and to grant reprieves and pardons for all offenses arising under the laws of the City.
There have been more than 40 men who have served as mayor in Columbus’ history dating back to 1859, with C.B. Stillman first holding the position. In some cases, people were elected to consecutive and non-consecutive terms.
Jim Bulkley was elected the mayoral role in the November 2016 election and has retained the position since then (as of May 2023). Per Resolution R06-107, the mayor currently makes $11,493 per year for serving in the public role as of April 2023. Bulkley also has a full-time job with R&R Christo Construction, “builders committed to excellence in new construction, remodeling, installing equipment and maintaining the systems that are housing America’s livestock,” according to the company’s website.