Darlington Mayor pushes for ‘Strong Mayor’ government

Darlington Mayor Curtis Boyd. PHOTO BY STEPHAN DREW
By Stephan Drew, Editor
Darlington Mayor Curtis Boyd has launched a petition drive aimed at changing the city’s form of government from its current strong council system back to a strong mayor structure, citing ongoing dysfunction and inefficiencies in city operations.
The mayor needs 608 signatures to place the measure on the ballot this fall and reports he has already collected more than half the required names in just two weeks, receiving what he describes as an “extremely positive response” from residents.
Boyd’s push for structural reform comes after months of what has been described as “hostility, disagreement and disruption” within the Darlington City Council. The mayor believes returning to a strong mayor system would enable city government to operate more swiftly and efficiently, with an elected official directly serving the people without disruption.
Under the current strong council model, which has been in place for nearly 25 years, the mayor serves primarily as a ceremonial leader with limited executive authority. Boyd explained that despite public perceptions, “the Mayor only has one vote on council” and lacks the power many citizens expect their elected leader to wield.
“A lot of people think the Mayor has the power and ability to control what goes on in the town. That’s not the case,” Boyd said in a recent interview. “When the public elects the Mayor or any other official, they expect that elected official to be the one doing the work and answering to the people.
”Under Darlington’s present structure, both the mayor and council members must refer citizen concerns to the City Manager, an unelected official appointed by the City Council. This arrangement, Boyd argues, creates unnecessary delays and removes accountability from elected officials.
“People ask us questions and tell us their problems all the time,” Boyd stated. “They have issues with the Police Department, Fire Department, Streets and Sanitation, Water/Sewer. All we can do is refer it back to the City Manager and hope it’s taken care of.”
The City Manager currently has authority to spend up to $5,000 without council approval. Under a strong mayor system, this spending authority would transfer to the elected mayor.Boyd points to current staffing gaps as evidence that the city needs stronger executive leadership. Darlington is currently operating without a Water Department Head, lacks a Codes Enforcement Officer for inspections, and has left an Economic Development Board position unfilled for over six months.
“We have a lot of good employees that are doing their best, but they need guidance which they are not getting right now,” Boyd explained. “All Departments are doing what they feel they should do,” but lack coordinated leadership to ensure smooth daily operations.
The mayor believes these challenges reflect broader systemic issues with the current governance structure. “I believe the current system has caused a decline. Our progress has stalled. We’re still making some progress, but I believe we can do more, quicker.”
Municipal governance experts note that cities typically operate under two primary structural models. Strong mayor systems concentrate executive authority in the mayor’s office, providing clear leadership and administrative efficiency through defined chains of command. However, this concentration of power can limit council input and reduce citizen representation in key decisions.
Strong council systems distribute authority more evenly among elected officials, with the council serving as the primary policy-making body. While this promotes balanced decision-making and greater citizen participation, it can also lead to slower decision-making processes and conflicts between mayors and councils.
Boyd emphasizes that his petition drive is not about personal power but about improving city governance. “This isn’t about me,” he said. “It’s about making the City of Darlington better.”
If the petition succeeds in placing the measure on the ballot, voters will decide whether to return to the strong mayor system. The City Manager position would remain under the new structure, though with altered responsibilities.
“Once the petition is signed, it simply places the issue on the ballot, giving the public the right to choose,” Boyd explained. “If you want it, good. If you don’t want it, good. The majority wins.”
After collecting the required signatures, the Voter Registration office will verify that all signers are registered Darlington voters. Once the required number of verified signatures is confirmed, the measure will appear on the ballot for the next election.
Boyd expressed confidence in the community’s decision-making ability, stating, “I believe the citizens will make the right decision for Darlington.”