Mayor

The Mayor is elected to office every four (4) years.  

Mayor Charles Gastineau took office on January 1, 2019.   Click HERE to view his Bio.  

The Mayor is the principal officer (CEO) of the City of Ward and is the Executive Branch of the city's government.  The Mayor is ex-officio president of the council. It is the Mayor’s responsibility to keep the city government running properly. This includes enforcing city ordinances and making sure that the residents receive maximum benefits and services for the taxes that they pay.  

Legislative Duties of the Mayor

• The Mayor presides over the meetings of the City Council.
• The Mayor may vote when needed to pass any ordinance, bylaw, resolution or motion. A.C.A. 14-43-501; 14-44-107; 14-45-105. Mayors in cities of the first and second class have a vote to establish a quorum. A.C.A. 14-43-501; 14-44-107.
• The Mayor is required to sign all ordinances, resolutions and city council minutes. A.C.A. 14-55-205.
• The Mayor shall also “keep the governing body advised as to the financial condition and future needs of the city and make such recommendations as to him or she may be desirable.” A.C.A. 14-58-302.
• The Mayor oversees the day-to-day activities of the city and supervises department heads.
• The Mayor has the power to appoint and remove all department heads, including police and fire chiefs, unless the city or town council votes to override the mayor’s action by a two-thirds majority of all council members.

Administrative Duties of the Mayor

• Mayors of cities and towns with the mayor-council form of government are required to prepare and
  submit a budget to the city council for approval on or before December 1 of each year'
• All mayors of cities of the first class must submit to the city council within the first 90 days of each
  year a complete report on the financial and administrative activities of the city. This is commonly
  referred to as the State of the City Report (A.C.A. § 14-58-302).  Click HERE to see this report.  
• The mayor shall also “keep the governing body advised as to the financial condition and future
  needs of the city and make such recommendations as to him or she may be desirable.” (A.C.A. §
  14-58-302)  Click HERE to see the annual Financial Reports.
• The mayor oversees the day-to-day activities of the city and supervises department heads

Mayor Charles Gastineau