Who governs city best?

Many local governments along the Wasatch Front don't rely on city managers to run their day-to-day business but would rather look to a full-time mayor or chief administrative officer.

To the layman, the difference is apparent only in the title, but there is a world of contrast in the style of government.

Salt Lake City has Rocky Anderson as its full-time mayor, but employs a chief administrative officer. Salt Lake County, the largest local government fixture, chooses to do the same, as does Sandy.

Salt Lake City changed from a commission form of government to the strong-mayor form two decades ago and pays Anderson $95,117 a year. Over the years, mayoral activism — and some say mayoral micromanagement — has escalated.

"Both (Deedee) Corradini and Rocky (Anderson) have been very assertive in their executive functions and get involved in day-to-day functions," said Roger Cutler, city attorney since 1974.

Chief administrative officer Rocky Fluhart runs the city "on paper," Cutler said. But in reality it's Anderson who does a lot of the managing. Their respective influence is reflected in Fluhart's other title: deputy mayor.

"They're still sorting out their roles . . . and the kitchen cabinet is still evolving," Cutler said.

Salt Lake County, too, opted for a change but much more recently. It abandoned the three-member commission style of government this year in favor of a full-time mayor and nine-member County Council.

Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman makes $94,000, while her chief administrative officer David Marshall gets $118,416 a year.

Riverton Mayor Sandra Lloyd said her city uses administrators but has hired city managers in the past.

It was a mistake.

"You are never going to get a city manager who feels like an administrator has the same level of authority. It's tough. Once they have been a city manager, always a city manager."

In a city manager form of government, the city manager is the chief executive officer of the city and responsible for running municipal business. The city manager answers to the city council.

In a mayor-council form of government, it is the mayor who is the chief executive officer elected by citizens to run the city. The chief administrative officer facilitates those wishes.