Denton City Council elects District 3 representative as mayor pro tem after two failed nominations

The Denton City Council elected the District 3 representative as mayor pro tem on June 17 after three rounds of nominations and two unsuccessful votes.

Mayor Hudspeth first nominated Council member Joe Holland for mayor pro tem, saying Holland "has helped me out tremendously" and is qualified to preside when the mayor is absent. That nomination did not secure the council's support and was recorded as failing. The mayor then nominated the representative from District 6; that nomination also failed in a subsequent voice vote.

Following guidance from the city's meeting backup on the nomination process, the mayor asked Representative from District 3 to nominate. The District 3 representative nominated herself and the nomination was seconded. In the final voice vote the council recorded yes votes from the mayor and representatives from Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and a single no from the representative from District 5; the motion passed and the District 3 member was declared mayor pro tem.

During the discussion Mayor Hudspeth spoke about the council's desire for a fresh start and expressed concerns about selecting a mayor pro tem who had campaigned against him in past elections. "I'm just desperate to have 1 person that likes me," he said as part of the remarks explaining his preference. The council's internal nomination process followed the procedures in the meeting backup, and the successful nominee accepted the role immediately after the vote.

The election of a mayor pro tem determines who presides at council meetings in the mayor's absence and is an internal leadership selection of the seven-member council. The council moved on to a reception following the vote.