| Mayor of the City of West Palm Beach | |
|---|---|
 Seal of West Palm Beach | |
Incumbent Keith James since April 4, 2019 | |
| Residence | West Palm Beach, Florida |
| Term length | Four years |
| Inaugural holder | John S. Earman |
| Formation | 1894 |
| Salary | $125,000 |
| Website | https://www.wpb.org/our-city/mayor-s-office |
| Elections in Florida |
|---|
 |
 Government |
The Mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida is a nonpartisan office that is the head of the executive branch of West Palm Beach's government. The type of government is Mayor-Commission. Powers and duties of the mayor include approving the agenda of and presiding over the meetings of the city commission, the ability to veto the city commission votes, including line-item vetoes in regards to the city budget, but vetoes can be overrode with a 4-1 vote. The mayor and city manager both have supervisory powers over the city's departments. Additionally, the mayor may initiate investigations involving the city of West Palm Beach.[1] Since 1991, mayors have been popularly elected to four-year terms.[2] City Hall is located at 401 Clematis Street, with the mayor's office on the second floor.[3]
On November 6, 1894, the day after West Palm Beach was incorporated, voters elected John S. Earman as the first mayor. Beginning in 1919, the city operated under a council–manager form of government, with the mayor elected to the city commission and selected by other members of that body to serve a one-year term. The mayor served as a chairperson of the commission and had far less power than the city manager.[4] A referendum in March 1991 resulted in a transition to a directly elected strong mayor.[5] The first modern election for mayor occurred in November 1991, resulting in Nancy M. Graham becoming the city's first strong mayor.[6] The current mayor is Keith James, who was elected on March 12, 2019.[7]
- ^ "Give West Palm a Strong Mayor". The Palm Beach Post. March 10, 1991. p. 1E. Retrieved March 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Eliot Kleinberg (March 7, 2015). "Stakes high in West Palm Beach Mayor race". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ "Directory of City Departments". West Palm Beach, Florida: City of West Palm Beach. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
centennialwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Earl Daniels and Fred Lowery (March 13, 1991). "Strong Mayor Gets Nod". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ "Graham Elected Mayor". Sun-Sentinel. West Palm Beach, Florida. November 20, 1991. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
parkerwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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