After last night’s City Council meeting and the selection of the Mayor, social media lit up with reactions. Some were hopeful, some frustrated, and much of them rooted in a misunderstanding about how Lodi’s government should work.

In regard to the selection of Councilman Yepez as Mayor, the Chamber was encouraged by his recent op-ed and his public support for economic development. His focus on growing opportunity, strengthening our local economy, and helping Lodi compete regionally is exactly the kind of thought leadership the Chamber has been promoting.

Here’s the part that often gets missed. In Lodi, the Mayor does not “run the city.”

How Lodi’s Government Actually Works
Lodi operates under a City Council–City Manager form of government. Five council members (one from each council district) are elected by the public. Those five people, collectively, set policy, adopt the budget, and establish priorities. The City Manager carries out those policies. The City Manager is the one running day-to-day operations, manage department heads, and make sure the city actually functions.

The Council decides what gets done.

The City Manager decides how it gets done.

What Does the Mayor Do?
The Mayor is selected each year by the City Council from among its own members.

The Mayor:

• Runs the meetings
• Sets the tone
• Manages discussion
• Calls the vote
• Represents the City at ceremonial and regional events 

What the Mayor does not do:

• Hire and fire staff
• Set policy alone
• Override the Council
• Control the city budget

Think of the Mayor as a board chair & not the CEO.

Important? Absolutely.

All-powerful? Not even close.

Why This System Can Work Well
When it works, this form of government is a strength. It prevents power from being concentrated in one individual. It encourages collaboration. It forces elected officials to compromise, prioritize, and govern responsibly as a team.

It also means every part of the city has representation. Five voices from five districts should, in theory, produce better decisions than one voice alone.

Where It Breaks Down
This system struggles when:

• Council lacks cohesion
• Members prioritize district interests over citywide needs
• Long-term strategy is sacrificed for short-term politics
• Disagreement reigns over collaboration

It also becomes challenging when difficult conversations play out publicly. California’s Brown Act limits private discussions between council members, which means disagreements often surface at the dais instead of being addressed ahead of time. If meetings are poorly managed, dysfunction can quickly replace direction.

Which brings us back to the role of the Mayor.

Leadership at the Mic Matters
A good Mayor facilitates in a way that ensures the following results:

• They make sure all voices are heard.
• They de-escalate tension.
• They keep discussions focused.
• They move the room toward decisions.

An ineffective chair can stall progress. A skilled one can restore momentum even without more formal authority.

The Most Powerful Figure You Rarely Hear About
The City Manager is arguably the most powerful figure in Lodi government.

A strong City Manager:

• Executes council priorities
• Manages staff professionally
• Delivers results
• Adapts when direction changes
• Maintains institutional integrity

If implementation fails, it doesn’t matter how good the policies were. This is why the selection of the next City Manager is so important.

The Mayor Myth
Over the last few years, something has shifted. There’s a growing belief that the Mayor holds significantly more power than the role actually carries. That’s simply not true. The City Council, as a body, runs Lodi.

The Mayor is not the executive.

The City Manager is.

Lodi’s Challenges Are Bigger Than Any One Title
What Lodi faces in 2026 can’t be solved by a mayor alone: 

• Funding the Homeless Access Center
• Structural budget deficits
• Public safety concerns
• Deferred park maintenance
• Wage stagnation and affordability
• Infrastructure needs

These demand leadership from all five council members and execution from City Hall.

Where the Chamber Comes In
At the Chamber, we work with all council members, regardless of district or title, to:

• Provide policy models from peer cities
• Share business impact data
• Advocate for economic growth
• Connect leaders with solutions

We believe Lodi’s future is strongest when government, business, and residents work together. Mayor Yepez has pledged to be the 'facilitator-in-chief' and bring these entities together in order to help our city move forward. We hope you will join us in this effort in 2026 and help us build a future in which our community is thriving, healthy, and safe.