Who should run Shelbyville?

For many years Shelbyville has had a full-time city manager in charge of municipal operations and a mayor whose duties are largely ceremonial. Meanwhile, the county mayor, or executive, or judge, whatever they've been called over the years, directly runs Bedford County's daily business.

Should Shelbyville's city government be changed so the elected mayor actually runs the city full-time instead of a non-elected city manager? Or would we run the risk of someone popular but unqualified being elected? And let's make it clear this is not a comment, positive or negative, on the present or any previous mayors or city managers.

I can see pros and cons on both sides of the issue

The barrage of TV ads for Nashville's mayoral race got me thinking about this along with the question Metro voters face of whether a local native or someone originally from elsewhere should run the city -- or if that factor should even matter (I don't think it should).

The ultimate factor, it seems to me, is if the voters' desires are heard more by an elected leader or as much by an appointee who doesn't directly face votors. Remember, that appointee is chosen by elected officials who, ideally, are listening to the public.