The mayor of a city is a local government official that carries a significant degree of authority. The position is generally appointed by a council (also called a city or town council) — and may carry the title His/Her Worship — or elected directly from the public by local-government elections held every six years. The term mayor shares its linguistic roots with the military rank of major, and both are ultimately derived from French maior.

In recent years, cities have been implementing blight elimination measures and encouraging civic engagement to foster community-led initiatives and build trust between local government and residents. This year, the number of speeches that significantly covered a civic engagement topic increased by 74 percent.

More mayors are addressing the issue of improving school outcomes and encouraging community involvement in education. This year, the number of speeches that discussed educational initiatives and issues doubled over 2018 levels.

Across the country, more mayors are discussing how to leverage new mobility services like e-scooters and dockless bikeshare programs as a means of promoting sustainable transportation options and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This year, the number of speeches that highlighted a ridesharing topic increased by 167 percent.