It is understandable that someone retires with a pension that is higher than their final salary.  If you work your early years with a very low salary, go through several 3 or 4 year periods without a raise, perhaps leave public employment for several years and then return--meanwhile your retirement account is growing each year.... for 30 or more years--there is no mystery as to how it ended up where it did.  He earned it.

The power of compounding interest.  A mayor should understand this concept.