Council squabbles over mayoral transition

DOWNEY - The seemingly mundane task of choosing a date to install the next mayor turned contentious Tuesday when Mayor Mario Guerra and Mayor Pro Tem Anne Bayer bickered over when to hold the ceremony.Bayer claimed the mayor pro tem traditionally chooses the date when the council elects a new mayor. She requested the ceremony be held Dec. 1 and called for a motion, seconded by Councilman David Gafin. But Guerra disagreed and said it is the outgoing mayor who chooses the date. He said he could not make a Dec. 1 meeting. Councilman Luis Marquez, who is expected to be made mayor pro tem at the ceremony, said he also could not make a Dec. 1 meeting. Bayer's motion failed on a 3-2 vote, with Councilman Roger Brossmer opposing the date as well. A majority vote chose Dec. 8 as the ceremony date, with Bayer and Gafin opposed. The regular city council meeting will be pushed back to Dec. 15.

********** Published: November 13, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 30