The alternative mayor gives the credit back.

principle — attributed to Don Welsh

The destination chief now lives on stage around the clock, often with a bigger profile than the elected officials next door. Welsh learned in Chicago that crediting the wins to himself instead of the mayor who launched them did not fly. Power held in trust has to be visibly returned: hand the credit to the person whose city it is, and you get to keep the job. The rule extends to any unelected leader whose visibility rivals the people who were actually voted in.

For destination organization CEOs, university presidents, and foundation heads whose media profile can eclipse the elected leadership around them. The practice is small and constant: name the mayor, name the governor, name the council, then take the microphone.

credit, elected-officials, political-craft, power-in-trust