Heads of administrations of the subjects of the Russian Federation capitals: recruitment channels

The dynamics of recruitment channels for heads of administrations in Russian regional capitals is considered. The empirical basis of the study is two biographical databases of mayors who held office in 2009 and 2024. The study revealed a number of trends. The share of former regional officials among mayors is growing. Also the embeddedness of mayors in the administrations of the cities they currently lead are increasing. The share of mayors from business is decreasing, while the predominance remains among them of former managers of firms oriented to the local market, controlled by local owners and resource-dependent on the city government. Also the share of mayors who previously sat in legislatures is falling. In general, the social-professional type of mayor-official is gradually replacing the types of mayor-businessman and mayor-public politician. This trends are largely due to the centralization of power at the regional level, the weakening of local autonomy, the increasing dependence of municipal administrations on governors and, in particular (which is one of the most important forms of manifestation and consolidation of these processes) a change in the prevailing method of recruitment of mayors, the transition from elections to appointment. All this means a change in the opportunity structure for a mayoral career, the accessibility and attractiveness of mayoral positions for people from various socio-professional groups. Connections in the regional administration are becoming an increasingly important recruitment factor, while the importance falls of control over financial resources and experience of successful election campaigns for promotion to the mayoral post.