Westminster council deadlocks on mayor pro tem after repeated 3–3 ballots, delays choice

Westminster City Council deadlocked repeatedly on the selection of a mayor pro tem following the swearing-in of newly elected members on Dec. 1, forcing the body to postpone the choice after several tied secret ballots.

The council conducted multiple rounds of secret-ballot voting late in the meeting; in several announced tallies the clerk reported 3 votes for one candidate and 3 for another. Mayor Nancy McNally opened a round of discussion after the initial tie and later suggested a compromise candidate, newly sworn Councilor Jack Johnson, to break the impasse.

"I think, you know, given our current situation, I would like the opportunity to maybe discuss with my colleagues the merits of each other," Jack Johnson said after the second round, describing his approach as conciliatory. Mayor McNally said the role is important for leading in her absence and urged unity.

Council debate included appeals to seniority and availability. One council member argued that Obi Azadi’s long-standing community presence and weekly office hours made him a strong candidate; another noted that new members often need time to acclimate before taking extra duties. The clerk repeatedly read tie counts aloud as multiple rounds failed to produce a majority.

With no candidate achieving a majority, the council paused the procedure to allow more ballots to be printed and to encourage members to confer. The mayor directed a five-minute recess; the clerk said the body would reconvene later in the evening. The selection remained unresolved at the end of the documented meeting record.

Next steps: the council left the item open for immediate continuation after the recess and did not record a final vote or appointment during the meeting.