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Council reopens mayor pro tem appointment, votes to replace earlier selection
Summary
After lively council debate about leadership, work capacity and possible conflicts, council voted to reconsider the May 19 appointment and approved a new mayor pro tem selection; remarks included questions about perceived conflicts and whether the position wielded extra authority.
At Item 5 council reopened a May 19 appointment to reconsider the mayor pro tem position. The mayor said he wanted discussion because the prior vote had been rushed, and multiple council members offered strong, contrasting views about who should serve.
Councilwoman Colleen Manassian criticized the prior process and raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, saying, "we now have two lobbyists for builders and contractors on this body and one of them works for the other. And that causes me tremendous concern for us as a city." Supporters of the appointment defended the new member’s independence and insisted that council rules and recusal practices prevent inappropriate influence. "To just say we're evil lobbyists or insinuate that is is extremely frustrating to me," one supporter replied.
Council discussed the practical role of mayor pro tem (largely supportive and not granting extra authority) and whether the person occupying the seat could work constructively with the mayor. After debate, a motion to reconsider the May 19 appointment passed. Following nominations and a second, council voted to appoint a different member as mayor pro tem (the transcript records the outcome: "Tylen is mayor prom"). The motion carried.
