11:00am | The City Council deadlocked on a motion last night that would have recommended that the position of Vice Mayor go to the councilmember with the most experience.
The item is prevalent because current Vice Mayor Val Lerch will be replaced next week by new incoming 9th District Councilman-elect Steven Neal, and the City Council will vote on a replacement. In 2008, Lerch won the seat based on seniority.
“And I thought I was selected based on my charm,” he joked. Fittingly, he was conducting the meeting at the time as Mayor Bob Foster was not present.
Whispers around City Hall are that two councilmembers, Suja Lowenthal (2nd) and Patrick O’Donnell (4th) are vying for the Vice Mayor position once Lerch has stepped down. Lowenthal was first elected in 2006 and O’Donnell was first elected in 2004.
City Attorney Robert Shannon explained, though, that any vote made last night would not bind the City Council to make any decisions in the future, much like the current policy to only name parks after people who have been deceased for more than one year (the Council sometimes does and does not adhere to that policy). So even if the Council had approved the item, they would not necessarily have to adhere to it when choosing a new Vice Mayor next week.
“I cannot say it has no force and effect, but it does not have a binding force and effect,” said Shannon.
Councilmember Gary DeLong argued that the recommendation has not always been followed, while Councilmember Gerrie Schipske countered that it had except in the case of Dan Baker in 2002.
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