The Little Rock municipal government is arranged using the “city manager system.” This means the mayor recommends a city manager to the council and the council votes to approve them.
City managers have broad powers. They are usually public servants with experience working in city government. Managers stay busy overseeing municipal departments or utilities like water and electricity, and making sure local ordinances are followed. Managers can perform audits and prepare budgets, all while juggling the personalities of different board members, who can vote to fire them.
In 2023, longtime city manager Bruce Moore died. The by-law board needed a replacement. Little Rock was basically manager-less for about two years until Mayor Frank Scott Jr. appointed former fire Chief Delphone Hubbard to the role.
Little Rock is one of the only cities to have the city manager set up other cities give the mayor more powers.
From Little Rock, I am Politics and Government Reporter Josie Lenora, This has been a Arkansas Civics Minute