This system spreads power across the council, with a mayor who has limited authority.
In theory, that sounds balanced. In reality, in a town like Eureka, it often leads to exactly the problems people complain about.
With only 8 to 24 people showing up, a small group of council members can:
- Form voting blocs
- Trade support (“you back mine, I back yours”)
- Control what gets approved or blocked
The mayor cannot do much to stop it.
This is where you see:
- Projects getting stalled
- Decisions that don’t seem to make sense
- Frustration from the public with no clear answers
And the biggest problem:
No one is clearly responsible.
Everyone shares power, so everyone can avoid blame.
This is the system where “good old boy” politics thrives the most, because control is spread across a small, consistent group.
Bottom line: This is the weakest system for accountability and the strongest system for insider control in a low-turnout town.
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