Mayor of Lawcrane

As the city of Lawcrane grew from a small village into a bigger town, the residents recognized a need for someone to help lead the city and prioritize matters of import to all the residents. They also wanted to make sure they had someone to blame.

In 1145 BTG, the positions of mayor and city council were created and the duties of these positions defined. Being part of the Kingdom of Orsholon, these positions had to be approved by the King. As a show of approval, the King Fhinad sent a squad of the Royal Guard to help maintain peace in the city.

The mayoral position grew in power as the city grew. The mayor began working more closely with the Royals to align the goals of the city with that of the Kingdom.

Since Lawcrane is the main port for the Kingdom of Orsholon, the mayor’s role is not only crucial to the city’s growth, but to the economy of the kingdom. For this reason, the mayor of Lawcrane works with, and is under constant scrutiny of, the Royal Family.

A mayoral election is held every 5 years. Ballots are held within the voting locations, and voting is only open to residents who live within Lawcrane city walls. The mayor serves 5-year terms, and there is no limitation on the number of terms they may serve.

Salary of 4,000 gp per month.

Potential for elevation to Royal Advisors of Orsholon

The mayor may be removed by the Royal Family without warning.

In addition, the mayor may be removed by special vote. This vote consists of an initial vote of no confidence from a simple majority of the city council. Should this happen, a special vote is held and citizens of Lawcrane vote to keep or remove the mayor. The total vote to remove must exceed 65% of the city population, or approximately 3,900 votes.

If the mayor is removed, a 5-day cooling off period must pass before a special election to elect a new mayor. The candidates for this special election will be the city council itself. Others wishing to run for mayor will have to wait until the next regular election. The replacement will not have the power of vetoing legislature,

The Mayor position has the following requirements:

• Must have been a resident of Lawcrane or the immediate region for at least ten years.
• Elected by the population of the city of Lawcrane
• Must reside within the city walls for the duration of their term
• Clean record with no history of corruption or criminal activity

While not strictly a requirement, having been a member of the City Council is a bonus, as the relationship between the Council and the Mayor can be adversarial, and familiarity with the Council can help keep matters on track.

The mayor is final arbiter of matters relating to the administration and defense of the city. Sanitation, taxes, trade, and tourism all fall under the mayor's purview. The mayor works with (and sometimes against) the city council. In most cases, the city council passes legislation and the mayor signs off. But the mayor can unilaterally block items passed by the council. If such a thing happens, there is a cooling off period and the vote is repeated. The mayor is also the liaison of the Royal Family. When the Royal Family needs answers to questions or comes to town, the Mayor will be the person to respond or ensure the Royal Family's visit is fruitful. Failure to do so is considered a slight against the Royal Family, and the mayor may be removed without warning by the Royal Family. While mayors are elected, they serve at the pleasure of the Royal Family.