(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — No gavel, no politics—just one day to lead. What if someone you admire had the chance to be Simi Valley’s honorary Mayor for a Day?
No, this isn’t an official city program (yet). But maybe it should be.
“Mayor for a Day” programs have taken off in cities across the country as a way to spark civic engagement and lift up community voices. In San Diego, students submit essays or videos on what they’d do if they were in charge; the winners shadow the actual mayor and get a peek behind the scenes, according to the City of San Diego’s website. In Minnesota, an annual essay contest invites kids to dream up ways to improve their hometowns.
Most of these programs focus on youth—but what if Simi Valley had two versions? One for students to learn how local government works, and another for adults to highlight people doing good in the community, and give them a chance to share their vision.
What would a Mayor for a Day actually do?
Well, in Simi Valley, the mayor is elected citywide and serves a two-year term. It’s a council-manager system, so the mayor’s role is more about leadership and representation than executive authority. They run City Council meetings, help shape policy alongside four district-elected councilmembers, and represent the city at events and official functions. The real day-to-day operations are handled by the city manager and staff—but the mayor still has a front-row seat to how things get done.
So a one-day mayor might not be signing legislation, but they could still do something meaningful. Maybe tour a local nonprofit, kick off a park cleanup, or shadow city staff to learn how ideas become policy—and share what they’d change if they could.
Leave your comment below! Who would you nominate?
Who in Simi Valley—young or old—has the spirit, heart, and vision to serve as a symbolic mayor for a day? What would they do with their time in the spotlight? What message would they share?
Send us your ideas. We may feature some of the most creative, thoughtful, or surprising nominations in a future story—with your permission and theirs, of course. You can share your response in the comments or on social media. If you’d like to be considered for inclusion, please include a way for us to reach you—an email or DM works fine.
Sometimes the best ideas start with a question. And sometimes, all it takes is one day to make a difference.
