The Mayor and Deputy Mayor in the city of Oshkosh may get new titles if an ordinance before the common council is approved. 

Oshkosh has a council-city manager form of government in which a professional city manager tackles the day-to-day operations of the city and the Common Council works to pass the ordinances and resolutions required in the city. An ordinance is before the city council to change the titles  of “Mayor” and “Deputy Mayor” to “Council President” and “Council Vice President.” 

William Manske, a former council member and attorney in Oshkosh spoke at a recent Common Council meeting. He asked that the council not change the titles of those positions. He said the people of Oshkosh want to have a Mayor. 

“Don’t take a step back to take the mayor away, because a lot of people want a Mayor in this city” said Manske. 

Manske said he is afraid that changing the titles will open a pandora’s box of problems and dissatisfaction in the city even if the form of government remains the same. He said the perception of a mayor at the helm is important for some people. 

The Mayor of Oshkosh is elected by the residents of the city. The Deputy Mayor is elected by the Common Council. The method of election to the positions would not change with the new ordinance, only the titles. 

In 1978 the City of Oshkosh changed the titles of “Council President” and “Council Vice President” to “Mayor” and “Deputy Mayor.” The current ordinance in front of the council will reverse that change.

No action was taken on the name change at the council meeting on March 12. It will reappear on the next council agenda on March 26.