County executive

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A county executive is the elected head of government of a county in the United States.

The title for a person holding this position varies depending on the state. Many states with county executives refer to the position as "county executive," but common alternative titles include "county mayor," "county judge," "county judge-executive," "county president", "county chair," "chief executive officer," or, in New York, "borough president." In consolidated city-counties, the executive may be referred to as the "mayor" of the city. For example, the "Mayor of San Francisco" technically serves as the mayor of the city and county of San Francisco.

The responsibilities of a county executive vary from state to state, but frequently include presiding over the county legislature; signing bills passed by the county legislature into law; managing county government agencies, finances, projects, and services; and appointing some county officials.[1]

The first county executives were established in Cook County, Illinois, in 1893, with the state legislature's creation of the President of the County Board, and in New Jersey with the creation of county executives in 1900, though these offices' powers were more limited.[2] However, the growth of modern county executives began in Westchester County, New York, in 1938. Today, approximately 700 counties have elected executives.[3]

States with county executives

State Counties Notes
Alaska Aleutians East Borough (Borough Mayor), Anchorage (Mayor of Anchorage), Bristol Bay Borough (Borough Mayor), Denali Borough (Borough Mayor), Fairbanks North Star Borough (Borough Mayor), Haines Borough (Borough Mayor), Juneau (Mayor of Juneau), Kenai Peninsula Borough (Borough Mayor), Ketchikan Gateway Borough (Borough Mayor), Kodiak Island Borough (Borough Mayor), Lake and Peninsula Borough (Borough Mayor), Matanuska-Susitna Borough (Borough Mayor), North Slope Borough (Borough Mayor), Northwest Arctic Borough (Borough Mayor), Sitka (Mayor of Sitka), Skagway (Mayor of Skagway), Wrangell (Mayor of Wrangell), Yakutat (Mayor of Yakutat) All organized boroughs in Alaska have elected borough mayors. The Unorganized Borough does not have a county- or borough-level government.[4]
Arkansas All counties in Arkansas have an elected county executive, called a "county judge."
California Los Angeles (County Executive beginning in 2028),[5] San Francisco (Mayor of San Francisco)
Colorado Denver (Mayor of Denver)
Delaware New Castle (County Executive)[6]
Florida Duval County (Mayor of Jacksonville), Miami-Dade County (Mayor), Orange County (Mayor), Volusia County (Chair)
Georgia Athens–Clarke County (Mayor of Athens), Augusta–Richmond County (Mayor of Augusta) DeKalb County (Chief Executive Officer), Macon–Bibb County (Mayor of Macon) Bartow, Bleckley, Chattooga, Murray, Pulaski, Towns, and Union counties also have sole commissioners who exercise both legislative and executive power.[7]
Hawaii Hawaiʻi County (Mayor), Honolulu (Mayor of Honolulu), Kauaʻi County (Mayor), Maui County (Mayor)[8] Kalawao County lacks self-government and is administered by the Hawaii Department of Health.
Illinois Champaign County (County Executive), Cook County (President of the County Board of Commissioners), Will County (County Executive)[9]
Indiana Marion County (Mayor of Indianapolis)
Kansas Wyandotte County (Mayor of Kansas City)[10]
Kentucky All counties in Kentucky have an elected county executive, called a "county judge-executive."[11]
Louisiana Ascension Parish (Parish President), East Baton Rouge Parish (Mayor-President of Baton Rouge), Iberia Parish (Parish President), Iberville Parish (Parish President), Jefferson Parish (Parish President), Lafayette Parish (Mayor-President of Lafayette), Lafourche Parish (Parish President), Livingston Parish (Parish President), Natchitoches Parish (Parish President), Orleans Parish (Mayor of New Orleans), Plaquemines Parish (Parish President), Pointe Coupee Parish (Parish President), St. Bernard Parish (Parish President), St. Charles Parish (Parish President), St. James Parish (Parish President), St. John the Baptist Parish (Parish President), St. Landry Parish (Parish President), St. Martin Parish (Parish President), St. Mary Parish (Parish President), St. Tammany Parish (Parish President), Tangipahoa Parish (Parish President), Terrebonne Parish (Parish President), Washington Parish (Parish President), West Baton Rouge Parish (Parish President), West Feliciana Parish (Parish President)[12]
Maryland Anne Arundel County (County Executive), Baltimore County (County Executive), Cecil County (County Executive), Frederick County (County Executive), Harford County (County Executive), Howard County (County Executive), Montgomery County (County Executive), Prince George's County (County Executive), Wicomico County (County Executive)[13]
Michigan Bay County (County Executive), Macomb County (County Executive), Oakland County (County Executive), Wayne County (County Executive)[14]
Missouri Jefferson County (County Executive),[15] Jackson County (County Executive),[16] St. Charles County (County Executive),[17] St. Louis County (County Executive),[18]
Montana Deer Lodge County (Anaconda–Deer Lodge County Chief Executive Officer),[19] Silver Bow County (Butte–Silver Bow Chief Executive)[20]
New Jersey Atlantic County (County Executive),[21] Bergen County (County Executive),[22] Essex County (County Executive),[23] Hudson County (County Executive),[24] Mercer County (County Executive)[25]
New York Albany County (County Executive), Broome County (County Executive), Chautauqua County (County Executive), Chemung County (County Executive), Dutchess County (County Executive), Erie County (County Executive), Kings County (Brooklyn Borough President), New York County (Manhattan Borough President), Monroe County (County Executive), Montgomery County (County Executive), Nassau County (County Executive), Oneida County (County Executive), Onondaga County (County Executive), Orange County (County Executive), Putnam County (County Executive), Queens County (Queens Borough President), Rensselaer County (County Executive), Rockland County (County Executive), Richmond County (Staten Island Borough President), Suffolk County (County Executive), Ulster County (County Executive), Westchester County (County Executive)[26] The elected borough presidents of New York City's five boroughs historically held significant executive authority. However, their powers were substantially reduced following the 1989 amendments to the New York City Charter, enacted in response to the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris, which found the composition of the New York City Board of Estimate unconstitutional.[27]
Ohio Cuyahoga County (County Executive),[28] Summit County (County Executive)[29]
Pennsylvania Allegheny County (County Executive),[30] Erie County (County Executive),[31] Lehigh County (County Executive),[32] Northampton County (County Executive).[33]
Tennessee All counties in Tennessee have an elected county executive, usually referred to as a "county mayor." In 2003, the Tennessee General Assembly passed a law changing the name of "county executives" to "county mayors,"[34] though the General Assembly can maintain the title of "county executive" by passing a private law that the voters of the county ratify.[35]

Three counties have a consolidated city-county governments. In Davidson County, which is consolidated with Nashville, the mayor is titled the Mayor of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.[36] Moore County is consolidated with Lynchburg and the mayor is titled the Mayor of Metropolitan Lynchburg and Moore County.[37] Trousdale County is consolidated with Hartsville and the mayor is titled the Hartsville/Trousdale County Mayor.[38]

Texas All counties in Texas have an elected county executive, called a "county judge."[39]
Utah Cache County (County Executive),[40] Salt Lake County (Mayor)[41]
Washington King County (County Executive),[42] Pierce County (County Executive),[43] Snohomish County (County Executive),[44] Whatcom County (County Executive)[45]
Wisconsin Brown County (County Executive),[46] Dane County (County Executive),[47] Fond du Lac County (County Executive),[48] Kenosha County (County Executive),[49] Manitowoc County (County Executive),[50] Milwaukee County (County Executive),[51] Outagamie County (County Executive),[52] Portage County (County Executive),[53] Racine County (County Executive),[54] Washington County (County Executive),[55] Waukesha County (County Executive),[56] Winnebago County (County Executive)[57] The first county executive was created in Milwaukee County. In 1959, the Wisconsin Legislature created the County Executive position, with the first election taking place in 1960.[58] In 1962, voters ratified an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution that established the office and clarified its powers in any county in which it was created.[59] In 1969, the state legislature allowed any county to establish a county executive. All county executive elections are nonpartisan and take place in the statewide spring election.[60]

Notable county executives

See also

References

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  1. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Marando, Vincent L.; Reeves, Mavis Mann (1993). "County Government Structural Reform: Influence of State, Region, and Urbanization". Publius. 23 (1): 41–52.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wilson, Thomas D. (1966). "Elected County Chiefs: As Suburban Areas Grow, Pressures Increase to Provide "Citified" Services". National Civic Review. 55 (10): 561–567. doi:10.1002/ncr.4100551006.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County structure, authority and finances". National Association of Counties. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Municipal Government Structure in Alaska". Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development: Division of Community and Regional Affairs. 2025. p. Local Government Resource Desk. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Schultheis, Emily (June 1, 2025). "That person will absolutely become the most powerful person': LA looks for a new king". Politico. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Executive Office". New Castle County. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Profiles of Georgia's Sole County Commissioners". Georgia County Government. Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Governments". State of Hawaiʻi. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Forms of County Government". Illinois Association of County Board Members. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Mayors of Kansas City, KS". Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."History". Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Parish Government Structure". Police Jury Association of Louisiana. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Government Structure". Maryland Association of Counties. 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Amrhein, John (September 21, 2016). "Elected county executives and county home rule in Michigan: Part one". Michigan State University. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Executive". Jefferson County, Missouri. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Frank White Jr. - Jackson County Executive". Jackson County, Missouri. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Executive". St. Charles County, Missouri. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Executive". St. Louis County, Missouri. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Chief Executive Officer". Anaconda–Deer Lodge County, Montana. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Chief Executive". Butte–Silver Bow County, Montana. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Executive". Atlantic County, New Jersey. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  22. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bergen County Executive". Bergen County, New Jersey. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Essex County Executive". Essex County, New Jersey. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  24. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Office of the County Executive". Hudson County, New Jersey. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  25. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Executive". Mercer County, New Jersey. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Government". New York Department of State. 2025. p. Local Government Handbook. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Perrotta, Gregory (2013). "A Case for and Against the Borough President in Twenty-First Century New York City". New York Law School Law Review. 58 (1): 193–212.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Office of the Executive". Cuyahoga County, Ohio. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  29. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Summit County Executive". Summit County, Ohio. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
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  32. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Office of the Executive". Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  33. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Northampton County Executive". Northampton County, Pennsylvania. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  34. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Feinberg, Allie (July 7, 2025). "Why do Knox County and Knoxville each have a mayor". Knoxville News Sentinel. Knoxville, Tennessee. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  35. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Summers, Paul G.; Moore, Michael E.; Catalano, Michael W. (August 13, 2003). Opinion No. 03-096 (PDF). Tennessee Attorney General (Report). Retrieved July 29, 2025.
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  38. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."County Mayor". Trousdale County, Tennessee. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
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  43. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Office of Executive Ryan N. Mello". Pierce County, Washington. 2025. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
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  59. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Article IV, Section 23, Constitution of Wisconsin, 1962, . . . the legislature may provide for the election at large once in every 4 years of a chief executive officer in any county with such powers of an administrative character as they may from time to time prescribe in accordance with this section and shall establish one or more systems of county government.
  60. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wisconsin County Official's Handbook (9th ed.). Wisconsin Counties Association. 2024. pp. 24–25.
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