[img]1792|right|Jim Clarke||no_popup[/img]In the slightly tense, slightly crowded audience at Monday night’s City Council meeting, everyone knew half of the final score – that Meghan Sahli-Wells would be promoted from vice mayor to mayor – because that is what Council policy dictates.
Eerie music began to play when it came time to choose a No. 2, the vice mayor.
Among the five members, there were but two choices – Andy Weissman or Mehaul O’Leary.
When nominations were opened, Jim Clarke spoke first, suggesting Mehaul O’Leary. Since Council collegiality became the non-optional law a few years ago, one-and-done has been the rule. A quick second followed, and then the putative unanimous vote.
Was it really silky and emotionless?
Only if you are a close family member of Alice in Wonderland.
In another setting, Mr. Clarke would have been a player, not the nominator.
He has been increasingly vocal lately about how he wants to defer the vice mayor’s office for a year so he will be the mayor during Culver City’s centennial celebration.
Choosing between Mr. O’Leary and Mr. Weissman “became a question of fairness,” Mr. Clarke said this morning.
“We do have a policy, and because of quirky things that happened in the past, Andy Weissman has not been the vice mayor. The policy said that the vice mayor would move into the position of mayor. That would avoid food fights at the swearing-in ceremony because it is supposed to be a festive time.”
Had Mr. Clarke opted to nominate Mr. Weissman, he said, “that would have meant Andy had been mayor three times and Mehaul only once.”
Morally and ethically, Mr. Clarke felt he had a single path to tread. “It was more of a fairness thing to nominate Mehaul,” he explained.
How long ago did Mr. Clarke begin thinking about nominations?
“From Election Night on,” he said.
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City Council Approved Policy 2010-01 Subject Matter: Mayoral Rotation
The purpose of this policy is to provide a rotational basis by which the Mayor and Vice Mayor are selected.
This Policy shall be consistent with the City Charter and other applicable laws.
CITY CHARTER PROVISIONS
Section 606 of the City Charter states:
Immediately following the certification of election results for any general or special municipal election at which Council Members are elected and at the second meeting in April in odd numbered years, the City Council shall elect one of its members as its presiding officer, who shall have the title of Mayor and one of its members as Vice Mayor. Both shall serve at the pleasure of the City Council.
The Mayor shall have a voice and a vote in all City Council proceedings, shall be the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or as may be imposed by the City Council consistent with the office of Mayor. The Vice Mayor shall perform the duties of the Mayor during the absence or incapacity of the Mayor.
A Council Member who has held the office of Mayor or Vice Mayor for one year shall not be eligible for reelection to that same office until one year has elapsed.
This Policy is established in accordance with this City Charter provision. As provided in the Charter, the election of Mayor and Vice Mayor is at the pleasure of the majority of the City Council. Where there may be conflicts between the Charter and this Policy, the Charter shall prevail.
MAYORAL ROTATION
It shall be the Policy of the City Council to provide for an orderly election of the Mayor and Vice Mayor each year. To implement such transition, the following shall be the preferred method of selecting the Mayor and Vice Mayor.
- The Vice Mayor would rotate annually into the Mayor's seat.
- The Vice Mayor's seat shall be filled by the most senior member in length of uninterrupted service who has not previously served as Vice Mayor. In case
of ties, then preference will go to the member who received the most votes in the most recent election involving those with equal seniority.
