The City of Yelm is an elected Mayor-Council form of government, and a non-charter code city. As described in the Yelm Municipal Code and Revised Code of Washington, certain responsibilities are vested in the City Council and the Mayor.
The Mayor is the chief executive and administrative officer of the City. He enforces the laws, directs the daily operations of City government, prepares the budget, and implements the policies and programs initiated by the City Council. He directs and coordinates the various departments, is responsible for appointing all department directors and authorizing all other personnel positions (with City Council being involved in the process of reviewing candidates for key positions) and may appoint a City Administrator to help carry out those duties. He has general supervision of the administration of City government and all City interests. He is the information liaison between City Council and City staff. He presides over all meetings of the City Council, when present, but shall have a vote only in the case of a tie in the votes of the Council with respect to matters other than the passage of any ordinance, grant, or revocation of franchise or license, or any resolution for the payment of money. The Mayor has the power to veto ordinances passed by the City Council, but such veto may be overridden by the vote of the majority of all council members plus one more vote. The Mayor is the official and ceremonial head of the City and represents the City on ceremonial occasions. In the absence of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro-tem performs his duties.
The current Mayor, Ron Harding, was elected in 2005 and re-elected in 2009 to a term ending 2014.