CITY HALL — The City Council has a full roster of seven members again, but still no mayor since the death of Ken Genser in January.
The council last month appointed Terry O’Day to fill Genser’s seat, but the body will have to elect a new figurehead to chair meetings and become the face of the city.
And with council members planning to miss meetings in March and April, Mayor Pro Tem Pam O’Connor said the panel won’t be able to select a new mayor until May 11 at the earliest. She had hoped the council could appoint a new mayor at its first meeting in April.
In recent months O’Connor has acted as the council’s chair and agenda setter.
The position of mayor in Santa Monica is almost entirely ceremonial, with no real power to back up the title.
But the role does have its perks.
The mayor makes more money than the rest of the council members — $15,329 per year compared with $12,774 — and gets to preside over meetings.
“For the most part the mayor is the one that everybody [asks] to attend events and speak,” said Esterlina Lugo, deputy city clerk.
The City Council typically re-organizes annually, with election-year shuffles usually taking place shortly after votes are counted and new members are sworn in.
Whomever is selected in May could have a short stint as mayor, as five council seats are up for election in November.
“For the most part the mayor is the one that everybody [asks] to attend events and speak,” said Esterlina Lugo, deputy city clerk.
Council members will vote on who should be the next mayor during a public meeting, with a majority vote required to make an appointment.
Among members of the council O’Connor, Bob Holbrook and Richard Bloom each have served as mayor.
