At a workshop Tuesday, four city council members indicated they were interested in serving as the next mayor of Cortez.
Before any procedural decisions were made, council member Shawna McLaughlin requested a discussion to determine which of the seven city leaders would be open to serving as mayor. She indicated she did not have the time required to serve as mayor, but she was interested in becoming the next mayor pro-tem.
Returning council members Tom Butler, Bob Archibeque, Karen Sheek, and newly appointed council member and former Mayor Orly Lucero all stated they’d be open to serve as the city’s top leader.
“As leaders, I think we would all aspire to take the next step and serve as mayor,” said Butler. “I’ll throw my hat in the ring.”
“My only agenda is to serve,” said Archibeque. “I’m interested in serving as mayor or mayor pro-tem.”
“I’d be willing to serve either position also,” said Sheek.
“I’ll throw my hat into the ring too,” said Lucero.
City Manager Shane Hale said all of the council members had the leadership potential to serve as the next mayor or mayor pro-tem.
“There are lots of strong candidates,” Hale said.
City attorney Mike Green said he “dusted off the books” to examine the proper procedure in selecting the next mayor, and asked council members how they would like to proceed when they vote on April 22. The body can either call for nominations and vote by secret ballot, or simply cast secret votes without nominations, Green said.
“I’m opposed to any secret ballot,” said councilmember Todd Keel, who indicated he’d be willing to serve as the next mayor pro-tem.
A voice vote would also be acceptable, but that approach has never been taken in the city’s history, Green said.
McLaughlin said she’d prefer a secret vote, especially if several nominations were made.
After a lengthy discussion, council members opted to table the procedural matter until they convened Thursday for a new city council orientation session.
Outgoing Mayor Dan Porter explained that the leadership position was more of a formality, a figurehead position.
“I never considered myself other than that of just another city council member,” added Porter.
Outgoing Mayor Pro-tem Matt Keefauver reminded those considering either leadership position that they must remain diplomatic.
“You have to be able to navigate opposing viewpoints, and manage time without having a written script,” added Keefauver.
Both Porter and Keefauver are term limited, and each will relinquish their seats when the new city council is sworn into office on April 22.
Archibeque praised both Porter and Keefauver for their service, adding that both provided a prime example of how to serve as council leaders.
According to City Clerk Linda Smith, the city has traditionally called for newly elected council members to nominate one of their colleagues to the mayoral post. If only one nomination was received, votes were cast in open forum, but multiple nominations were decided by secret ballot.
The council member receiving the most votes was named mayor. The same process, in the past, has also decided who was chosen to serve as mayor pro-tem.
“We just want to be prepared,” Smith said.
Hale added the council was free to choose how they wanted to select the city’s next leaders.
“It’s your process,” he told councilmembers.
Due to a lack of qualifying candidates, the city’s April 8th election was cancelled.
Newly appointed council member Jim Price indicated he was too new to the governing body, stating he would not be interested in serving in a leadership role.
Councilmembers are paid $400 pe r month.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com