HUNTINGTON BEACH : Green Would Rotate 2 Mayoral Posts

Mayor Pro Tem Peter Green is proposing that the City Council begin choosing its mayor and mayor pro tem on a fixed rotation basis rather than filling the posts each year by a majority vote.

At its Monday night meeting, the council will consider the proposal, which Green said he believes would minimize the political maneuvering often associated with the council’s annual mayoral selection. Additionally, Green, who last month was elected to his first term as mayor pro tem after six years on the council, said the change would enable him to prepare his 1991 work schedule should be become the council’s top ceremonial chief in December.

Under the proposal, Green, as mayor pro tem, would automatically become mayor at the council’s first meeting in December, and the council member with the next most consecutive years of experience would become mayor pro tem. If two members have the same length of council experience, the member who received the most votes in the last council election would first assume the post.

Although Green acknowledged he would not have proposed the idea if he were not mayor pro tem, he said he has long supported the system rather than the current one, in which a council majority may appoint any member in the mayoral election.