The mayor, or council president (known as a kunnanjohtaja in Finland) is the highest-ranking executive officer in a city. Mayors can be elected directly through a local-government election or, as in some Australian cities, may be appointed from within the council to act as ceremonial head at official events and to carry out the authority of the council between meetings. The role is often ceremonial, and the mayor wears robes and a mace for ceremonial occasions. In many cities, mayors deliver a annual State of the City speech outlining their priorities and vision for the future.

The most popular mayor speech topics were economic development, education and civic engagement. In 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams introduced a plan to lift up working families by funding 900 Safe Haven beds for unhoused expectant mothers and announced school programs such as “NYC Reads” and a Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning.

In 2019, 74 percent of mayor speeches featured significant coverage of economic development, including discussions of opportunity zones. Some cities are looking to the federal government for help with infrastructure projects such as street resurfacing, airport runway extension and sewer upgrades. Others are focusing on community development activities such as retail and office space to stimulate local economies.

Increasingly, mayors are discussing the issue of civic engagement and encouraging residents to take part in the democratic process. They are also highlighting the importance of government data and technology to improve transparency and efficiency.