Yuhnke Commentary: Being Mayor isn't exactly an easy job

PHOENIX - There are some things in life that only a very few people ever get to experience.  I’m not talking about climbing to the top of Everest or swimming with sharks, I’m talking about something that might seem much more mundane: running a city.

I had a chance to sit down with the outgoing Mayor of Phoenix , Phil Gordon, this week and it really made me think about what a powerful, restricting and unique experience it must be to run one of the 10 largest cities in the country.  

The Mayor is charming, funny, humble and honest.  I’ve met Mayor Gordon a few times during my 2 years in Phoenix and I’ve always felt that he’s a man who isn’t trying to be something he’s not.  He’s not perfect or suave, he is who he is.  I like that about him.  

He admitted to me that the past 8 years of his life have been non-stop.  In fact he said his personal relationships with his friends and family have suffered greatly.  Think about it, you are in charge of a city with over 1 million people and expected to be available 24/7.  The job doesn’t stop when you put your keys on the key rack at your front door.  Many of us deal with stress and long hours at work but I can’t even begin to imagine the expectations this job entails.

On top of this, you’re not exactly raking in the money.  Sure, his base salary of $88,000 isn’t exactly chump change, but when you factor in the responsibilities he has it hardly seems like enough.  He’s running what equates to a multi-million dollar company yet he’s paid a fraction of what most CEOs make.  

The Mayor told me that the nice part about moving into the private sector is that he’ll be able to pay off some bills.  Public service isn’t the cash cow some may think it is.  There’s a greater good and I can admire anyone who forgoes a big 6-figure salary lifestyle to serve the public.  

I don’t mean to paint an ugly picture of being a mayor.  There are fancy dinners, rubbing elbows with celebrities, politicians and other famous people and having the power to make decisions that will impact millions of people.  It’s an amazing job in many ways.  I think what I realized more than before is that there are great sacrifices that are made for someone who takes on this unique position.  

Gordon’s advice for mayor-elect Greg Stanton was simple, “sleep now while you can. ”  

Whether you agree with his politics or not, I think his advice alone paints a picture of a job that simply never stops and always expects more.  A job with power, responsibilities, accountability and expectations that most of us will never even begin to understand.