Richardson council moves mayor pro tem selection into closed session, elects Ken Hutchenrider

The Richardson City Council voted to move its mayor pro tem selection process into executive session and, after private deliberations, elected Councilman Ken Hutchenrider as mayor pro tem for the 2025–27 council term.

The decision followed more than an hour of public comment and a staff presentation that outlined the office’s duties under the city charter and the council’s rules of order. City Manager Don Magner reviewed the charter language noting the council “select 1 of its members as mayor pro tem” and that the mayor pro tem “will perform the duties of the mayor in case of the absence or inability of the mayor to perform said duties.” He also summarized recommended qualifications the council should consider, including knowledge of meeting procedures, understanding of local and regional issues, effective communication, and the ability to fill in for the mayor on short notice.

Residents who spoke during the public-comment portion urged a visible, public selection process. Patricia Griffin of District 4 told the council she wanted an “open discussion about how you define the…