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I remember the mayor of the small town I grew up in (<5000people), knew his son.....they had a very nice house with pool (small town in ohio mind you) always had very nice cars (gm land so caddys and such).....
Iirc he made good money as mayor and wife was a stay at home mom....but my understanding is he owned a few businesses locally so already had money.....
Either way it was definatly a prestigious thing with the community, he was very hands on as to whatever was happening in town as far as the local gov was concerned......
I'm sure to get voted in in a small town you would've lived there for some time and have earned the respect of the locals.....jump up to 10,000+ residents and I think its going to be more politcal than personal touch.......