Elections, Mayors, and Police Departments. Why local elections matter.

It is difficult to speak in generalizations in regards to the United States and state/local governments. One statement that is nearly always true is that a city's mayor is elected by the public. The citizens of a city vote in the best, most qualified candidate (in their opinion) to be mayor.

Generally, and in most cities, the mayor is tasked with oversight of police departments. If not solely the responsibility of the mayor, it can also include the City Council which is also usually a publically elected board. The mayor and/or council will appoint a police chief and oversee the broad management of the police department.

The important note is that those officials that are directly responsible for the management and oversight of police departments are, almost always, elected by the voting public. Who the public chooses to elect can and will have a major impact on the community's day-to-day lives.

In light of recent events, much blame has been thrown around in regards to who is responsible for gaining control of our cities. The answer lies with the Mayors and City Councils, or those officials chosen, by public vote, by the people.

Here is a list of currently sitting Mayors in US cities that are battling protests and outright riots. These people were elected by the citizens currently railing against them:

-LA Mayor - Eric Garcetti (D) 
-NYC Mayor - Bill De Blasio (D) 
-Minneapolis Mayor - Jacob Frey (D) 
-Atlanta Mayor - Keisha Bottoms (D) 
-Seattle Mayor - Jenny Durkan (D) 
- St. Paul Mayor - Melvin Carter (D) 
-St. Louis Mayor - Lyda Krewson (D) 
- Louisville Mayor - Greg Fischer (D) 
- Providence Mayor - Jorge Elzoro (D) 
- Washington DC Mayor - Muriel Bowser (D) 
- Buffalo NY Mayor - Byron Brown (D) 
- Birmingham AL Mayor - Randall Woodfin (D) 
- Chicago Mayor - Lori Lightfoot (D) 
- Detroit Mayor - Mike Duggan (D) 
- Denver Mayor - Michael Hancock (D) 
- Boston Mayor - Marty Walsh (D) 
- Houston Mayor - Sylvester Turner (D) 
- Dallas Mayor - Eric Johnson (D) 
- Phoenix Mayor - Kate Gallego (D) 
- Charlotte NC Mayor - Vi Lyles (D) 
- Salt Lake City Mayor - Erin Mendenhall (D) 
- Portland Mayor - Ted Wheeler (D) 
- Kansas City Mayor - Quinton Lucas (D) 
- Columbus OH Mayor - Andrew Ginther (D) 
-Tampa Bay Mayor - Jane Castor (D) *She was a Republican prior to 2015*
- Charleston SC Mayor - John Tecklenburg (D)
- Cleveland Mayor - Frank Jackson (D)

I will add the Republican Mayors I found in cities with rioting:

- Ferguson Mayor - James Knowles III (R)
- Jacksonville FL - Lenny Curry (R)

- Davenport Iowa Mayor - Mike Matson (I can not find his party affiliation anywhere. Maybe Davenport doesn't allow party politics)