This is the system used in most of the United States' large cities, primarily because mayors serve full-time and have a wide range of services that they oversee.
[3][4] Political scientists, historians and journalists have covered the famously good and notoriously bad mayors in history.
[5] Four mayors of New York have served 12 years: Fiorello H. La Guardia (1934–1945), Robert F. Wagner Jr. (1954–1965), Ed Koch (1978–1989) and Michael Bloomberg (2002–2013).
Fiorello LaGuardia was a charismatic and influential mayor of New York City for 12 years (1934-1945) during the Great Depression and World War II.
[6] When running for his third term, Robert F. Wagner Jr. broke with the Tammany Hall leadership, ending the clubhouse's reign in city politics.
He also led a rezoning of large areas of the city, which facilitated massive and widespread new commercial and residential construction after the September 11 attacks.
Bloomberg is considered to have had far-reaching influence on the politics, business sector, and culture of New York City during his three terms as mayor.
He has also faced significant criticism for the city's stop and frisk program, support for which he reversed with an apology before his 2020 presidential run.
He controlled the powerful Cook County Democratic machine, which generated votes and provided support in Washington and the state capital.