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| Thursday, May 15 2008 1:04 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, May 15 2008 1:24 PM
Being mayor of Bakersfield is not nearly as big a deal as it sounds, at least in terms of power.
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• Is the official head of the city for all legislative, policy and ceremonial purposes.
• Signs all legal instruments and documents.
• Presides at all city council meetings.
• “Shall promote and increase the economic and industrial base of the city, in cooperation with any existing economic development agencies or organizations.”
• Can call a special council meeting, but can vote only if the seven-member council is tied.
• Has no administrative authority and cannot interfere with the authority of the city manager, or give orders to city employees.
• Selects the minister who gives the invocation and student who leads the flag salute at city council meetings.
•Receives $24,000 a year and has one full-time staff member. Plus, the council is to appropriate a budget for him for “the reception and entertainment of public guests.”
His operating budget for the next fiscal year is proposed to be about $55,000.
On Dec. 14, 2005, Councilman Harold Hanson was absent. The City Council had to fill positions on the Miscellaneous Civil Service Board and the Fire Civil Service Board.
Both votes were tied, and Hall had to vote to break the ties and fill the seats.
Photos:
After throwing in the first pitch to Tiffany Ann Moy during opening ceremonies for the League of Dreams in March, Mayor Harvey Hall comes over and shakes her hand.
Former Bakersfield Mayor Bob Price.
Mary K. Shell, a former Bakersfield mayor
In his primary duty of leading City Council meetings, Mayor Harvey Hall hasn’t even gotten to cast a vote in nearly 21⁄2 years.
So the men and women who’ve held the post have taken different tacks.
Hall measures his mayorship in numbers: 483 speeches given, 4,233 ribbons cut, 72 appearances at celebrity readings, 46 freeway cleanups led.
Away from City Hall, he’s an outgoing mayor, willing to welcome foreign visitors, to travel to other countries and to be the face of Bakersfield.
At council meetings, though, he is as quiet as he can be. He reads a script, he recognizes council members and he keeps his opinions to himself. He cuts public commenters off when they reach the end of their three minutes — although he sometimes shows a little more deference to older women — and he reminds the audience not to applaud.
He takes pains to be neutral. When he was asked last week for permission to serve recall papers on Councilman Ken Weir, Hall merely nodded and gestured — a move designed to grant permission without giving the impression of endorsement of a recall.
And he never gives his opinion on the issues before the council, although he does sometimes, away from the dais, express his dismay that the community is divided.
Not all mayors have been the same way, and the three men challenging Hall in the June 3 primary all promise to have louder voices.
Dennis Martinez says he would lobby for more state and federal investment in Bakersfield. Marc DeLeon says he would focus on local businesses. Joseph Caporali says he wants to bring a VA hospital to Bakersfield.
Former Bakersfield Councilman Mark Salvaggio said he’s one to “welcome mayors to enter into debate, at least comment.”
“I always respected the fact that they are elected by all of Bakersfield, not by a particular area or ward,” said Salvaggio, who saw four mayors while a councilman. “Just because you can only vote in case of a tie doesn’t mean you can’t show leadership and vision.”
Former Mayor Bob Price, for example, was never shy about giving his opinion, Salvaggio said. He had been police chief before he was mayor, so he had a perspective on city business.
Mary K. Shell, who was mayor from 1981 to 1985, said Hall’s priorities are in the right place.
“It’s important to people that the city be represented by the mayor,” she said.
But at the same time, she didn’t mind asking questions during council meetings if something occurred to her and no council member asked the question.
That’s something Hall doesn’t do during regular meetings, although he did ask questions during a budget work session this week.
“Harvey represents a good example of a diplomatic and considerate mayor,” said Jack Hardisty, the former development services director. “I’ve seen some mayors that are a bit curt, I guess, in the way they conduct their meetings.”
“He stands out, Mary K. Shell stands out. Slightly different styles, but using the office to promote Bakersfield,” Hardisty said.