When Murray Seasongood was sworn in as Cincinnati's first mayor under the new charter 76 years ago, he asked the city to be patient with the new administration and “not expect us to rub Aladdin's lamp.”

        Charlie Luken, the first directly elected mayor since Mr. Seasongood's reform movement took the reins at City Hall in 1926, won't give the same speech when he's sworn in today.

        Though the new powers he assumes today carry with them high expectations from Cincinnati and the region, Mr. Luken said he's optimistic that he and the new city council can fulfill them.

        “I think the new system came along at just the perfect time in Cincinnati's history,” said Mr. Luken, speaking Friday night to supporters of the “stronger mayor” ballot issue approved by voters more than two years ago.

        That system, which takes effect today, gives the mayor veto power over City Council, allows him to appoint committee chairs, and makes him the point man for hiring and firing the city manager.

        In addition to the “stronger mayor,” today's ceremony foreshadows profound changes at City Hall:

        • The mayor and council will have the opportunity to select a new city manager for the first time in eight years, as John Shirey's resignation becomes effective today.

        • Issue 5, approved by voters in November, will give that city manager the authority to hire and fire future city officials — including the police and fire chiefs — without regard to civil service.

        • The new mayor and council will be forced to deal with difficult issues right out of the gate, including a U.S. Justice Department report that all but mandates changes in the Police Division, a $17 million budget deficit, and stalled downtown development.

        Councilwoman Alicia Reece, who will be sworn in as vice mayor today, said the ceremony will usher in “a new era of change.”

        “I do think we have an opportunity to do things differently than we've done them in the past,” she said. “I think we're working on some changes to make the city progressive, and to reverse systems that have been in place for 30 years.”

        Already, voters have seen some of the changes. They got to elect the mayor directly for the first time since the charter was adopted in 1925.

        “In some ways, that is more important than any other feature of the new system,” said James Svara, a professor at North Carolina State University who's a national expert on municipal government. “Cincinnati was the only city of any size that still elected the mayor under a top vote-getter system.”

        Of all the new powers at his disposal, Mr. Luken may find hisgreater exposure the most valuable, he said.

        “The mayor has some new tools under the charter, but the critical thing about the mayor's leadership is the quality of his ideas,” he said. “Effective leaders create a shared vision. If the mayor has good ideas, and can sell them effectively, that's what can make the difference.”

        But amid the unbridled optimism, there are some voices of caution.

        “I think we could exaggerate what the system can do for us,” said former mayor David Mann. “In the long term, we still have some fundamental problems as a city — problems are much deeper than the way in which the mayor is selected.”

        Mr. Mann was skeptical of Issue 4, the 1999 charter amendment that led to the mayor's stronger powers. But he said if anyone can pull it off, it's Mr. Luken.

        “They're writing on a blank slate. As Charlie has said, the first time around is the most important time. A lot of precedent will be set. And I think it's a good time to have a new slate to write on.

        “There's a sense of history that I'm sure Charlie appreciates. In some ways there's a perception that the problems in the community are so huge that they're almost overwhelming. But my sense is there's also more of a commitment to working together and turning the city's image around,” he said. “I think it's a fascinating moment in the city's history.”

        Former mayor Roxanne Qualls said it will still take all of Mr. Luken's political skill to guide the city in the new system. But she said the payoff will be worth it.

        “There ought to be high expectations,” said Ms. Qualls, who supported the changes and helped to draft them. “You're not going to see the effects of it for one or two years, but that's why the term was changed to four years.”

        Mr. Luken said he's not willing to wait that long.

        “I'm not worried about expectations, because I think people will see change,” he said. “I'm more worried about how change will be resisted. People say they want change, but change comes at a price.”

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