And the new mayor pro tem is ___
Normally I never go to the anointing of the new mayor. They are usually very bland affairs and tend to follow a script. The outgoing mayor is thanked profusely by all and sundry for their hard work and dedication to duty. The outgoing mayor then gives a short speech listing all the accomplishments of their 9 1/2 month term, which is virtually indistinguishable from the speech given by the last five outgoing mayors, and then passes the gavel to the incoming mayor, who accepts graciously. After a few minutes of effusive praise of the outgoing mayor, and after a moment for photographs, the incoming mayor lays out their own agenda for the next 9 1/2 months.
Up next is the nomination of the mayor pro tem, and since we are a city that typically rotates the job with the top vote-getter going next, nothing much happens other than swearing in whoever is next in line. We then adjourn for punch and cookies and usually some mediocre wine and a little bit of political gossip.
In some ways the very banality of it all gives one a sense of permanence and civility of government and the orderly passing of power, although actually the mayor’s job in our type of government doesn’t come with any particular executive power and it’s pretty much a ceremonial role. Nevertheless, everyone likes to be called mayor and, ceremonial or not, every politician wants the title at some point.
I began to hear rumbles that this mayoralty transition might be different, so Karen and I took ourselves down to city hall to see the event. The council chambers were reasonably full with well-wishers, as is typical. The farewell to Mayor Laura Rosenthal went ahead as planned and then Mayor Pro Tem Lou La Monte assumed the gavel as the new mayor, so far so good; and then it all changed.
Skylar Peak nominated himself for mayor pro tem, which was a good indication he didn’t have the votes but was plunging ahead nevertheless. Outgoing mayor Rosenthal had suggested that perhaps Peak might want to wait before stepping into the role as mayor pro tem because he appeared to have a lot on his plate at this time as there was an ongoing investigation in connection with the incident at the Pt. Dume shopping center that was widely reported in the press, and he was also under care for mental health problems. Her suggestion was met with jeers from some of Peak’s partisans. Someone nominated John Sibert to be mayor pro tem, but he declined. Next, La Monte nominated Joan House to be pro tem. She appeared surprised, but accepted, and was voted in 3 to 2 with Peak and Sibert opposing.
Several of Peak’s partisans, principally Hamish Patterson and Andy Lyon, spoke in public comment and angrily lambasted the council for their actions.
When it came for the time of the actual swearing-in, Peak left the dais and didn’t return until after both mayor and mayor pro tem had been sworn in.
When he left the room, so did several Sheriff’s deputies who returned when Peak returned.
The tension in the room was palpable and raised all sorts of questions. Was this just politics? After all, Rosenthal, La Monte, House and Sibert are sort of from the other political party from Peak. Or were there real questions in their minds about the state of Peak’s mental health? Apparently Sibert didn’t have those reservations, but the other three did.
On the other hand, the first thing you learn in council politics is to count to three, and why would Peak force this to go to the vote when he had to know that he was going to lose. I know that someone discussed with him delaying his pro tem term and he turned down a compromise. He must have known that the rotation is council custom and not law, and in a showdown whoever has three votes wins.
Maybe it was a matter of principal with Peak, or he just didn’t want them to think they could push him around without a fight or maybe he just isn’t thinking too clearly.
I certainly don’t know the answers as to what this all means, but from here on the council is going to require closer watching by all of us.