The benefits that a directly elected mayor with real powers could bring to Dublin were highlighted by the governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley, last night.
The Irish-American, who is often touted as a possible presidential candidate for 2012, was mayor of Baltimore for six years and was numbered as one of the US's five best mayors by Timemagazine.
He introduced "CitiStat", a performance-related system which highlights areas of underperformance. It is estimated to have saved Baltimore $350 million (€245 million) in areas such as reduced overtime.
The governor was brought to Ireland by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce to give his views on the mayoral role. The chamber has been calling for a directly elected mayor with "teeth" for many years. Minister for the Environment John Gormley is expected to present a Green Paper on the issue before Christmas, following a government commitment to introduce such a mayor by 2011.
Speaking to The Irish Timesyesterday, Mr O'Malley said executive powers for mayors were "a tremendous tool" in making local government "more open . . . more performance-measured".
Asked if Dublin was losing out by not having a more powerful mayoral office, he said Dublin was "such an incredibly vibrant place" that it was hard to say it was slipping backwards.
"But I think the better question is how can we move our city forward . . . and with the greatest amount of urgency and speed." He said he had always been amazed that cities could function without one person clearly in charge.
"In my own experience it's very easy for people in bureaucracies to duck and hide and without that public accountability that comes from one person being in charge."
Dublin Chamber of Commerce president Ronan King said businesses were paying two-thirds of local government financing and it was time they got value for money. "Never, ever again should the premier citizen of this city have his or her name drawn from a hat. That was the low point in the history and heritage of Dublin city," he said.
