---
title: What does Evanston’s mayor do?
url: https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/what-does-the-mayor-do/
updated: 2026-10-16
source_policy: every fact carries a numbered source; [n] markers refer to the Sources list
---

[Home](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/) / [Explainers](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/) / What does the mayor do? Explainer · Published Fri Oct 16, 2026

# What does the mayor do?

More explainers

1. [Why is Evanston electing a mayor in 2027?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/why-special-election/)
2. [Who serves as Evanston’s mayor until the election?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/acting-mayor/)
3. [Will Evanston have a mayoral primary in February 2027?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/february-primary/)
4. [What’s the difference between District 65 and District 202?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/d65-vs-d202/)
5. [Can Skokie residents vote in Evanston’s school board elections?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/skokie-voters-school-boards/)
6. [What is the Oakton College board election?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/oakton-college-board/)
7. [How do I vote by mail in Evanston?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/vote-by-mail/)
8. [How accessible is voting in Evanston?](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/accessible-voting/)

[All explainers →](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/)

Short answer

Evanston’s mayor leads City Council meetings, and votes only to break a tie or on hiring or firing the city manager. [1]

## The basics

- Evanston is a home-rule city with a council–manager form of government. The City Council is the mayor plus nine councilmembers, one per ward. [2]
- The mayor votes only to break a tie, such as 4–4, and on hiring or firing the city manager. In June 2025 the council’s Rules Committee voted unanimously to keep it that way. [1]
- The mayor, councilmembers and clerk serve four-year terms. [2] The mayor elected in 2027 serves the rest of the current term, through May 2029. [3]

## Until a new mayor takes office

The City Council chooses an acting mayor from its own members. [4]

Related

- [How the acting mayor works](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/explainers/acting-mayor/)
- [The mayor’s race](https://evanstonvoterguide.com/mayor/)

## Sources

1. Evanston RoundTable — Council nixes expanding mayor’s voting power (June 3, 2025) — https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/06/03/council-nixes-expanding-mayors-voting-power-raises-bar-for-acting-mayor-in-new-rules/
2. City of Evanston — City Council — https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/city_council/index.php
3. City of Evanston, City Clerk — 2027 Special Mayoral Election — https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/city_clerks_office/2025_consolidated_elections/index.php
4. 65 ILCS 5/3.1-10-50, municipal vacancies (as amended by P.A. 104-434) — https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=006500050K3.1-10-50