In the first months under Mr. Wilder, Richmond has seen what strong-mayor proponents call the system's greatest benefits - rapid decision-making, sweeping change and an empowered, accountable elected official. But critics of the form of government say Richmond's strong mayor has brought out the worst: poor checks and balances, a lack of representation and a power struggle that has left individual council members with much less authority. Richmond's first popularly elected mayor in 60 years has slashed departments, fired the city manager and police chief, and persuaded council members to grant him even greater powers. Supporters say they trust his judgment. Opponents are outraged. "All the checks and balances that would normally be taken into consideration have been ignored" because of Mr. Wilder's stature in Richmond, said Virginia state Sen. Henry Marsh, who served as the city's first black mayor in the late 1970s. "You don't change a system to meet an individual's needs. He has full power." With a population just under 200,000, Richmond is one-sixth the size of Dallas. But Richmond faces similar big-city challenges, from poverty and homelessness to a sky-high crime rate that once earned it a place on the FBI's 10 Most Dangerous Cities list.