Mayor’s Office

Mayor's Responsibilities

According to the Kent City Charter, Mayor Amrhein represents the City in ceremonial affairs and presides over the Council meetings. He represents the City in a multitude of events around the region and on the Kent State Campus and serves on several boards and commissions throughout Portage County.

It's interesting to note that, with a ceremonial mayor and council-manager system, most of the governing authority resides with the city council, as opposed to other types of mayoral systems where the executive power lies with the mayor. The key difference is how much independent authority the mayor has to direct the city’s operations and policy agenda.

Below is a chart describing the types of work a ceremonial mayor does and does not do.

What a Ceremonial Mayor Does...	What a Ceremonial Mayor Does Not Do...
Represent the City Publicly - Attend events, ceremonies, and community gatherings as the official face of Kent	Directly Manage City Departments - in a council-manager system, day-to-day operations are run by the city manager, not the mayor
Preside over City Council Meetings - Chair meetings, set the agenda, and ensure orderly proceedings	Unilaterally Make Policy Decisions - Major policy changes, zoning, taxes, or spending require Council approval
Coordinate with Other Elected Officials - Work with council members, other local leaders, and community groups to build consensus	Veto Legislation - The mayor does not have veto power over the decisions of the Council.
Serve as a Liaison - Represent the City in intergovernmental meetings, community events, and public relations activities	Act Alone in Emergencies - While they made lead public response, funding and operational decisions in emergencies are usually made by the city manager or council.
Break Council Ties - Only in the case of a tie amongst Council members, does the mayor vote on legislation	Control the Budget - Budget proposals are typically prepared by the city manager and approved by the Council.

Clerk of Council
319 S. Water St.
Kent, Ohio 44240

Phone: 330-678-8007