As far as Kevin Johnson is concerned, this town already wants him to be a strong mayor.

Put into office by a 25,000-vote margin in November, Johnson is a celebrity mayor who never seems to stop moving, frustrated by a governing system he complains is mired in process and politics.

Voters rejected that system, he argues, by catapulting him into City Hall, and he aims to make change happen with a revitalized campaign to rewrite the city charter.

After initial push-back from others on the City Council, he put his proposal to make Sacramento a "strong-mayor city" into a vault while the city battled a $50 million deficit.

With the deficit filled, his proposal to give the mayor increased authority over the budget and the fate of hundreds of city workers likely will define much of what Johnson does in the coming months.

Supporters said last week that they had filed signatures from more than 52,000 city residents in favor of placing the initiative on the ballot. If enough of those signatures are valid, the City Council determines when the vote will occur.

Political observers and even some of Johnson's critics acknowledge he has built the cachet to give the idea momentum, if only because he knows how to monopolize the spotlight.

"He hasn't backed off at all from controversial topics," said Councilman Ray Tretheway, the first council member to oppose the measure publicly. "Has he done enough (to convince voters to pay attention to the proposal)? I think so. I just think it goes too far."

The attention that follows Sacramento's former NBA star-turned-mayor has not dimmed. To some, he is an object of adoration; others seem to abhor him.

Autograph seekers approach him on J Street and in restaurants (his assistant carries a Sharpie pen for those occasions). While at a fundraiser for Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee this week, a dozen iPhones were fixated on the Democratic mayor, recording him as he worked the GOP crowd.

Taking advantage of a national spotlight, Johnson continues to push broad initiatives. An intern in his office is exploring the city strengthening ties with Tel Aviv, Israel – the hometown of Kings draft pick Omri Casspi – and Johnson has five Harvard fellows in City Hall researching economic development, homelessness and the arts.

"I think most people would agree that Johnson has begun to find his political footing," said political analyst Gary Dietrich. "He was a political rookie, we knew that going in, but his confidence level and sure-footedness is beginning to show and that's going to help him a lot in terms of the public perception."

Still, some of his early supporters have been increasingly critical of his moves, particularly the strong-mayor campaign.

A question of power

Council members Sandy Sheedy and Robbie Waters – who supported Johnson's run against two-term incumbent Mayor Heather Fargo – said his proposal gives the mayor too much power.

"I think the city is growing at a rate that we have to consider a strong mayor," Waters said. "But I have a problem with a mayor having the ability to get rid of 500 employees."

Bloggers and columnists who celebrated Johnson's triumph over Fargo have shown signs of cooling toward him, especially during an investigation into his nonprofit St. HOPE's use of federal money.

In May, after agreeing to repay more than $400,000 in federal grants, Johnson and St. HOPE were removed from the list of those suspended from receiving federal aid. While on that list, Johnson risked the city's ability to accept federal stimulus money, according to the opinion of a Washington, D.C., attorney.

The unease of Johnson's critics continued after a departing St. HOPE executive revealed that a board member allegedly deleted some of Johnson's e-mails while the organization was under federal subpoena, precipitating a new investigation.

The Democratic Party of Sacramento County expressed unease, too. It voted to oppose the strong-mayor measure last month, saying it granted too much power to one person.

Call The Bee's Ryan Lillis, (916) 321-1085.