I recently had the honor of participating in the Metro Mayor’s Leadership Academy with a dozen other mayors from around the state. Mayors from Arvada, Castle Pines, Frisco, Idaho Springs, Lakewood, Leadville, Lone Tree, Louisville, Mead, Minturn, Rocky Ford, and Springfield all took part, creating a fascinating mix of perspectives from municipalities of all sizes.
Thanks to Civic Results (civicresults.org), over the course of eight months, we tackled issues like water rights, economic development, managing complex council relationships, governance, crisis leadership, and navigating state-level politics and legal matters. But the best part—and, according to the President and CEO of Civic Results, the main goal of the academy—was the opportunity to connect with other mayors.
It was a chance to learn about what makes our town unique and what challenges we share with other communities. The biggest difference? In Mountain View, we operate under a strong mayor-council system. This means I serve as the chief executive of the town, overseeing daily administration, managing staff, and playing an active role in shaping local legislatioBy making recommendations to the town council.
In contrast, every other mayor in my class serves in a council-manager form of government. In their municipalities, a professional manager handles day-to-day administrative operations, while the mayor’s role is primarily ceremonial, in addition to chairing council meetings. This distinction is important because, in Mountain View, the responsibility of running the town falls squarely on my shoulders, similar to Denver only at a very different scale.
But despite those structural differences, we all had plenty in common. First and foremost, we are all deeply committed to our communities. In fact, we couldn’t help but engage in a friendly competition over whose town had the biggest bragging rights! Many of us began our public service journeys in volunteer roles or on our local councils before stepping up to run for mayor. And we all recognize that holding this office is one of the greatest honors of our lifetimes.
We also share the knowledge that leadership isn’t always easy. We make tough decisions, knowing that not everyone will agree with us. We engage with our constituents regularly, listening to their thoughts and concerns in order to represent them as best we can. We also understand that a thick skin is essential—because sometimes, we take the blame for things that are beyond our control or are simply misunderstood.
Ultimately, being mayor is about service. It’s about being accessible, being accountable, and doing everything possible to help our town thrive. In Mountain View, that means wearing many hats—executive, administrator, and advocate—while working hand in hand with council and the community. It’s a responsibility I take seriously, and one that I cherish every day.
It is very special to have the opportunity to self-govern at this hyper-local level. Mountain View is unusually small for an urban municipality, and this allows us to be nimble and creative in our choices. If community members are interested in making a difference and participating in local government, there is no better time than right now. The first step is to share your thoughts with me and ask questions if you have them.
The Metro Mayor’s Leadership Academy reminded me that, while every municipality is unique, we all share a deep commitment to serving our communities. Mountain View is small but mighty, and together, we can continue to shape it into the best version of itself. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I encourage everyone to be a part of this journey.
