Spring time examination of a public official (7)
I believe the answer is:
mayoral
'a public official' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'spring time examination' is the wordplay.
'spring time' becomes 'may' (I've seen this in another clue).
'examination' becomes 'oral' (oral examination is a kind of examination).
'may'+'oral'='MAYORAL'
'of' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for mayoral that I've seen before include "Relating to town's elected head" , "Of a civic dignitary" , "for chief councillor?" , "council leader" , "Dignitary's" .)