ABSTRACT
To optimize the likelihood of successful economic development strategy, city leaders need to agree on the means and objectives of economic development efforts. Coalition building to obtain this agreement therefor becomes important. Coalition building is a challenge, however, in that institutional expectations and characteristics of different city offices may influence how various city leaders view economic development proposals. For elected position-holders such as a mayor, for instance, retaining office requires maintaining voter approval; for appointed office-holders, such as city managers, retaining office has to do with maintaining support by the hiring body. Thus, elected leaders may be more constituency-oriented and view short-term development efforts more favorably than appointed office-holders. Successful coalition building for economic development proposals, accordingly, may necessitate navigating institutional-associated differences in perception regarding the problems facing the city and how best to address these problems. We tested whether perceptions about city economic challenges and resources differ across three distinct city offices – city manager, mayor, and council member. To do so, we surveyed institutional city office-holders in the state of Texas. Our findings revealed that there are more similarities than differences in economic development perceptions across these three types of city leaders. These findings have implications for coalition building among city leaders as they seek support for successful economic development strategies.
