Alexander City is in competition with every other city, therefore any policy change that makes us better improves our chances for prosperity and growth. The position of “city manager” would benefit Alex City for several reasons:

1. Hiring a city manager would increase our odds of having competent leadership. There are job requirements for city manager positions that traditionally include a master’s degree in business or public administration plus work experience in the field. These requirements ensure that the city will have a business leader with skills suited for the job. Currently, there are no requirements for the office of mayor – it’s essentially a popularity contest. This system produces likable leaders, but not necessarily qualified leaders when it comes to managing a 45 million dollar budget and 285 employees. Would you hire a textile worker for a job that requires business and public administration skills? We should question the logic of how we currently select our city’s business leader.