 Odense Municipality is the administrative unit which covers not only the city of Odense but surrounding suburbs and villages . Odense City Council consists of 29 members , including a mayor . The mayor of Odense , Anker Boye , is a member of the Social Democratic Party . His first term was from 1993 to 2005 when he was defeated by Jan Boye , a Conservative . He was re @-@ elected in the 2009 election , forming a coalition with the Red – Green Alliance , the Socialist People 's Party and the Social Democrats . The city council 's motto is At lege er at leve ( Playing is living ) summarising a new approach addressing learning , innovation , development and growth with targets for 2017 . Boye and his administration have been criticised for mismanaging the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen in 2005 , above all for allegedly signing a contract with Tina Turner for a show which resulted in a deficit of 13 million kroner . 
