Facing the questions in elected mayor debate

The debate was organised by The Northern Echo and chaired by editor Peter Barron.

The panel of four members included representatives from both sides of the argument, as well as Middlesbrough elected mayor Ray Mallon and local government expert and Teesside University lecturer Michael Macaulay.

At the end of the debate, a show of hands revealed that about two-thirds of those present were in favour of an elected mayor.

Below are some of the questions answered by the panel:

Is there a third way?

Alan Charlton (AC): "I don't know. As far as I'm concerned we have somebody who is not involved in any political ways whatsoever (the ceremonial mayor). I'm fully happy with that."

Stuart Hill (SH): "There's a whole lot of ways that have not been explored in Darlington, such as citizens' juries and referendums on particular issues.

"Democracy isn't a single vote every four years, there's got to be a whole range of devices that can enable people to be listened to.

"If people are happy with the way that this council has come then the outcome of a mayoral election will inevitably be to elect someone from the Labour party who has done a good job."

Michael Macaulay (MM): "It depends on how radical you want to be. For example, you could follow the Swiss model and have referendums on practically everything - but that isn't particularly effective.

"One other way is to get rid of the Quango system of unelected bodies."

Ray Mallon (RM): "We belong to a one party state - the Civil Service never changes.

"I don't know whether I'll stand in Middlesbrough in three years' time, but if I do stand and I win, I'll give you a cast iron guarantee, I'll be gone after that.

"Politicians overstay their welcome and our leaders should go before they're pushed.

"I believe in secure planning and I'm already looking for my successor for elected mayor of Middlesbrough."

What would happen to the ceremonial mayor and his functions?

AC: "I think the ceremonial mayor performs a very important function in Darlington, particularly in the community and voluntary sector. When people know the mayor's going to be there, it's important to them, they respond to that.

"Ceremonial mayors by and large have disappeared where there are elected mayors. Where are Middlesbrough's chains?"

SH: "We won't be losing 140 years of tradition. There will be absolutely no change whatsoever to the existing arrangements for ceremonial mayor other than in their title."

RM: "Without being arrogant, I don't need a chain. People know who I am - I'm Ray Mallon."

What is your group going to give the tax-payers to make things better?

AC: "I believe Darlington is a fine town, and it's a fine town because I believe it has been well-run. There have been substantial improvements in the town in the past ten years. I don't think the system can be bettered."

RM: "I have lived in Darlington for 12 months. Going back 18 months, I broke my leg. At the turn of the year, I started walking. I came across streets where I'd never been. And you know something? I was really impressed.

"Whether an elected mayor would enhance that remains to be seen. I'm a resident of Darlington, and I'm impressed by it. You have got the attention of the leadership of this town.

MM: "Everyone should be aware that no matter what happens in the referendum, something will be changing.

"If the proposals in the 2006 White Paper are carried out, your leadership will change.

"The council leader will be given more mayoral powers. They will have four-year terms, for example.

What is your vision for the future governance of Darlington? Will it be better than the present system?

SH: "What I want to see is a complete change in culture, like what has happened in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough. A change where different parties work for the good of the town, where the leader is responsive to the people.

"I think there's a better chance of that if everybody has a vote on who that leader will be."

AC: "We simply don't know who we are going to get. In nine out of 12 cases the mayor is the ex-leader or senior politician.

"In the other three, we have Ray Mallon, Stuart Drummond, and the other was an editor of a newspaper."

RM: "You could debate this all day, coming up with fors and againsts.

"It comes down to personality, it comes down to opinions. Most councillors in the country don't want an elected mayor: they don't want change. They want to choose who is on the executive.