I agree. For now, "dead time" of mayors is really too long and it makes town control impossible. This system has to be rebuild. My favourite option is the last one. The first could be cool but the fact is if you're attacked by the mayor, you couldn't get rid of him. And I don't like the second, because I think it's better (more "realistic") to talk with a npc.
EDIT : I should read less quick, I haven't seen "ignore everything" in the first option. So my favourite options are the last one and the first one. The first one is surely the most safe option.