County executive

Head of government of a US county

See also: County administrator and County judge

A county executive (or county mayor) is the chief executive officer of a county in the United States. They are either elected by the citizens of the county or appointed by the county council or governor of the state.

The county executive signs bills passed by the county council into local ordinance, manages county government agencies, finances, projects, and services, and appoints the sheriff, county administrator, judges, and other officials of the county.

## States with county executives[edit]

The title for a person holding this position is "County Executive" in many states but other titles are used, including "County Judge" (in Arkansas and Texas, and historically in Missouri and Tennessee), "County Judge/Executive" in Kentucky, and "Mayor" in some counties, and "County Mayor" in Hawaii and Tennessee.

State | Counties | Applicable law

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Alaska | Aleutians East, Anchorage Municipality, Bristol Bay, Denali, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Juneau (City & Borough), Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, North Slope, Northwest Arctic, Sitka (City & Borough), Skagway (City & Borough), Wrangell (City & Borough), Yakutat (City & Borough) | Alaska Constitution, Article X[1]
Arkansas | Title is "county judge" in all counties (list) |
California | Los Angeles[2] (CEO), Orange[3] (County Executive Officer), Sacramento,[4] Santa Clara[5] |
Delaware | New Castle[6] |
Florida | Orange County (Mayor), Miami-Dade County (Mayor) |
Georgia | Athens-Clarke (Mayor),[7] DeKalb (CEO)[8] |
Illinois | Champaign,[9] Cook,[9] Will[10] |
Kentucky | Counties are headed by an elected executive known as the County Judge/Executive.[11] | Kentucky Constitution, Section 144[12]
Maryland | Anne Arundel,[13] Baltimore,[14] Cecil,[15] Frederick,[16] Harford,[17] Howard,[18] Montgomery,[19] Prince George's,[20] Wicomico[21] |
Michigan | Bay,[22] Macomb, Oakland,[23] Wayne[24] | Optional Unified Form of County Government,[25] Charter Counties[26]
Missouri | Jefferson[27] Jackson[28] St. Charles[29] St. Louis (County)[30] |
New Jersey | Atlantic County Executive[31] Bergen County Executive,[32] Essex County Executive,[33] Hudson County Executive,[34] and Mercer County Executive[35] are elected county executives; Union County has an appointed county manager.[36] | Optional County Charter Law[36]
New York | Albany,[37] Broome,[38] Chautauqua,[39] Chemung,[40] Dutchess,[41] Erie,[42] Monroe,[43] Montgomery,[44] Nassau County Executive,[45] Oneida,[46] Onondaga,[47] Orange,[48] Putnam,[49] Rensselaer,[50] Rockland,[51] Schenectady (Manager), Suffolk,[52] Ulster,[53] Westchester County Executive[54] | Municipal Home Rule Law[55]
Ohio | Cuyahoga,[56] Summit[57] | Alternative County Government Law[58]
Pennsylvania | Allegheny,[59] Erie,[60] Lehigh,[61] Northampton[62] | Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law
Tennessee | State law provides that counties are headed by an elected county executive who uses the title of "County Mayor." Exceptions are the three counties (Davidson, Moore, and Trousdale) that have consolidated city-county government, where the position is not used, and certain counties where a private act of the state legislature authorizes the executive to use the previous title of "county executive." Historically, the position was called "county judge."[63] | Tennessee Code Annotated 5-6-101[63]
Texas | Title is "county judge" or "County administrator" in all counties (list) |
Utah | Salt Lake (Mayor), Cache[64] | Utah Code Title 17, Chapter 52a, Part 2, Section 203[65]
Virginia | Albemarle,[66] Fairfax, Prince William | Code of Virginia Title 15.2 Chapters 5-8[67]
Washington | King,[68] Pierce,[69] Snohomish,[70] Whatcom[71] |
Wisconsin | Brown,[72] Dane,[73] Fond du Lac,[74] Kenosha,[75] Manitowoc,[76] Milwaukee,[77] Outagamie,[78] Portage,[79] Racine,[80] Waukesha,[81] Winnebago[82] | Wisconsin Constitution, Article IV, sections 23 and 23a[83]

## See also[edit]

* County commission
* Borough president

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Article 10: Local Government". Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
2. ^ "Los Angeles County Chief Executive website". Archived from the original on 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
3. ^ "Orange County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2009-09-01. Retrieved 2009-10-13.
4. ^ "Sacramento County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
5. ^ "Office of the Santa Clara County Executive website". Retrieved 2010-01-12.
6. ^ "New Castle County Executive website". Retrieved 2008-05-25.
7. ^ "Unified Athens-Clarke County Commission website". Archived from the original on 2008-06-04. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
8. ^ "DeKalb County Chief Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
9. ^ a b "Forms of Counties". Illinois Association of County Board Members. Retrieved 2023-06-05.
10. ^ "Will County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
11. ^ "History of the Kentucky County Judge/Executive". kcjea.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
12. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2007-10-09.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
13. ^ "Anne Arundel County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
14. ^ "Baltimore County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
15. ^ "Cecil County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2014-01-04. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
16. ^ "Frederick County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
17. ^ "Harford County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
18. ^ "Howard County website". Archived from the original on 1996-11-01. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
19. ^ "Montgomery County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2006-12-11. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
20. ^ "Prince George's County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
21. ^ "Wicomico County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-17. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
22. ^ "Bay County Executive website". Retrieved 2008-06-20.[permanent dead link]
23. ^ "Oakland County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
24. ^ "Wayne County Executive website". Retrieved 2008-06-20.
25. ^ The Michigan Legislature. "MI Optional Unified Form of County Government". Archived from the original on 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
26. ^ The Michigan Legislature. "MI Charter County Act". Archived from the original on 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
27. ^ "New council set to lead Jefferson County | Metro | stltoday.com". stltoday.com. Archived from the original on 2011-02-10. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
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30. ^ "St. Louis County website". Archived from the original on 2008-09-29. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
31. ^ "Atlantic County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
32. ^ "Bergen County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-04-18. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
33. ^ "Essex County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
34. ^ "Hudson County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-07. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
35. ^ "Mercer County website". Archived from the original on 2007-01-03. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
36. ^ a b The League of Women Voters of New Jersey. "COUNTY GOVERNMENT IN NEW JERSEY". New Jersey Citizens' Guide to Government. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
37. ^ "Albany County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
38. ^ "Broome County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-02-24. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
39. ^ "Chautauqua County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2007-10-13. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
40. ^ "Chemung County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
41. ^ "Dutchess County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
42. ^ "Erie County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
43. ^ "Monroe County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-06-07. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
44. ^ "Montgomery County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2016-11-07. Retrieved 2016-11-06.
45. ^ "Nassau County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
46. ^ "Oneida County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
47. ^ "Onondaga County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
48. ^ "Orange County website". Archived from the original on 2004-03-27. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
49. ^ "Putnam County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
50. ^ "Rensselaer County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-23. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
51. ^ "Rockland County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
52. ^ "Suffolk County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
53. ^ Brooks, Paul (November 5, 2008). "Hein wins big as first Ulster County executive". Times-Herald Record. Ottaway Community Newspapers. Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
54. ^ "Westchester County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
55. ^ "Chapter 36-a, Municipal Home Rule Law". New York State Consolidated Laws. New York State Legislature. Archived from the original on 2002-08-16. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
56. ^ "Cuyahoga County website". Archived from the original on 2010-11-21. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
57. ^ "Summit County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
58. ^ "Title III, Chapter 302, ALTERNATIVE FORM OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT". Ohio Revised Code. Ohio General Assembly. Archived from the original on 2008-06-22. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
59. ^ "Allegheny County website". Archived from the original on 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
60. ^ "Erie County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
61. ^ "Lehigh County website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
62. ^ "Northampton County website". Archived from the original on 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
63. ^ a b 5-6-101. County mayor - term - title Archived 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine, Tennessee Code Annotated, amended as of 2007
64. ^ "Executive Office". Cache County. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
65. ^ "County executive-council form of county government" (PDF). Utah Code. Utah State Legislature. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
66. ^ "Albemarle County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
67. ^ "Title 15.2, Code of Virginia: Counties, Cities and Towns". Virginia Decoded. Archived from the original on 2013-08-06.
68. ^ "King County Executive website". Archived from the original on 1999-09-10. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
69. ^ "Pierce County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
70. ^ "Snohomish County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-02. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
71. ^ "Whatcom County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
72. ^ "Brown County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
73. ^ "Dane County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-28. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
74. ^ "Fond du Lac County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2009-05-01. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
75. ^ "Kenosha County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-04-15. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
76. ^ Infinity Technology, Inc. "County Exec- Manitowoc, Wisconsin". Archived from the original on 2001-10-27. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
77. ^ "Milwaukee County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
78. ^ "Outagamie County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
79. ^ "Portage County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2008-05-31. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
80. ^ "Racine County Executive website". Archived from the original on 2003-10-03. Retrieved 2008-06-09.
81. ^ "Waukesha County". Archived from the original on 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
82. ^ "County Executive | Winnebago County". Archived from the original on 2010-07-02. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
83. ^ "Wisconsin Constitution". wisconsin.gov. Archived from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2018.