Tacoma’s Push for a Commission-Style Government
Local reformers demand a new city charter to operate municipal governance like a private corporation.
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The city council will next week be asked to call an election to select a committee of 15 to draw up a new charter for the city to provide for the commission form of government. If the council refuses, then we will be forced to call the election by the petition of the people. This was the action decided on by the City Club at the Commercial club rooms last night. Charles L. Bury, B. O. Hodge, Dr. S. M. McGee, William Crehan and C. L. Robbins were appointed a committee to see the council. The general scheme is to have five commissioners to take hold and run the city as a board of directors run a private corporation. The legislature has passed the bill enabling cities to hold non-partisan elections and primaries and, when the charter is amended, the commission plan can be introduced.
“The general scheme is to have five commissioners to take hold and run the city as a board of directors run a private corporation.”
The 'Commission Plan' was the 20th-century precursor to the modern City Manager form of government. It reflects an era of intense civic experimentation where business-like efficiency was prioritized over the ward-based political machines that had previously dominated Tacoma's city hall.
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