But since we have tried and failed five times in this century to pass a new constitution, we still have to creak along with the old one. Little Rock switched from the mayor-alderman system to the city manager system 40 years ago after its citizens became outraged when their mayor stood up for the right of black children to enroll in Central High School. The mayor in a city-manager city has no authority, except to preside, cut ribbons, make speeches and listen to dissatisfied citizens. The person who really runs Little Rock is the city manager, a well-trained bureaucrat who, of course, is not elected. How ironic this would be to the writers of the 1874 constitution.
Any city can certainly use a professional manager to provide the daily services the citizens want.
City managers aren't good at doing that. They are looked upon as bean-counters who could be gone in a month if another city makes a better offer. The person who handles the practical politics of a diverse city needs to be a home boy with muscle and a conscience, the image people have when they think of a mayor. Little Rock doesn't have that person and won't until laws are changed. It wants to raise the rates that it charges other cities, principally North Little Rock, which is the waterworks' biggest customer.