No on Prop F

Dear Editor,
    As three former mayors of Austin, all of whom served as City Council members prior to being elected to the top office in the city, we strongly oppose Proposition F.
    If successful at the polls on May 1, this devastatingly dangerous proposition would change Austin from a council-manager form of government to a strong mayor structure.
    Most people who have served as mayors of any city would admit, if pressed, that they would have loved to have had more power while in office. The lure of autocracy is strong! Fortunately, our city charter ensures that that can’t happen. The council-manager form of government is the most representative, democratic and accountable system imaginable. Numerous checks and balances are built into it, and tremendous access for the public is guaranteed.
    A switch to strong mayor would mean one person holds all the cards in municipal government. He or she would have the enormous power of a veto; they would not have to attend council meetings; and they could appoint (and fire) the heads of every department in the city. This is a situation ripe for cronyism and backroom dealing.
    Please join us in rejecting Proposition F. Vote NO on strong mayor.