Strong Mayor System Begins For Colorado Springs

Downtown development and a downtown convention center are ideas that have stalled under previous mayors of Colorado Springs. However, those ideas could succeed under the city’s new mayor and new form of government, said a local political expert Tuesday.

Bob Loevy, a political science professor at Colorado College, said major projects are common in cities like Denver that have strong mayors instead of a government dominated by a city manager and city council.

“Denver strong mayors have done Denver International Airport,” said Loevy. “They’ve done the Denver Convention Center. They’ve provided the leadership for the Pepsi Center. It takes from 10 to 20 years to make a full transition to a strong mayor, but I expect we’ll see that here with Steve Bach. Look at our governor (former Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper). It was his restaurant that led the revitalization of Denver’s downtown.”

Loevy said the added authority and visibility of a strong mayor makes it easier for a mayor to lead and gather support on important issues.

“This does mean less influence for the City Council,” he said. “But they will check the mayor’s power so that he doesn’t become too powerful. It’s a new role for the council that it must become accustomed to.”

For a strong mayor system to be effective, Loevy said a mayor must be charismatic, colorful and visible in the community. He said it’s too soon to predict whether Bach will exhibit those qualities.

“So many of the things he does will be for the first time,” said Bach. “We’ll be setting the precedent for strong mayors to come. This is going to be a very exciting four years in the city’s history.”