At a workshop Tuesday, four city council members indicated they were interested in serving as the next mayor of Cortez.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Returning council members Tom Butler, Bob Archibeque, Karen Sheek, and newly appointed council member and former Mayor Orly Lucero all stated they\u2019d be open to serve as the city\u2019s top leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs leaders, I think we would all aspire to take the next step and serve as mayor,\u201d said Butler. \u201cI\u2019ll throw my hat in the ring.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy only agenda is to serve,\u201d said Archibeque. \u201cI\u2019m interested in serving as mayor or mayor pro-tem.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d be willing to serve either position also,\u201d said Sheek.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll throw my hat into the ring too,\u201d said Lucero.<\/p>\n
City Manager Shane Hale said all of the council members had the leadership potential to serve as the next mayor or mayor pro-tem.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are lots of strong candidates,\u201d Hale said.<\/p>\n
City attorney Mike Green said he \u201cdusted off the books\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m opposed to any secret ballot,\u201d said councilmember Todd Keel, who indicated he\u2019d be willing to serve as the next mayor pro-tem.<\/p>\n
A voice vote would also be acceptable, but that approach has never been taken in the city\u2019s history, Green said.<\/p>\n
McLaughlin said she\u2019d prefer a secret vote, especially if several nominations were made.<\/p>\n
After a lengthy discussion, council members opted to table the procedural matter until they convened Thursday for a new city council orientation session.<\/p>\n
Outgoing Mayor Dan Porter explained that the leadership position was more of a formality, a figurehead position.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never considered myself other than that of just another city council member,\u201d added Porter.<\/p>\n
Outgoing Mayor Pro-tem Matt Keefauver reminded those considering either leadership position that they must remain diplomatic.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be able to navigate opposing viewpoints, and manage time without having a written script,\u201d added Keefauver.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Archibeque praised both Porter and Keefauver for their service, adding that both provided a prime example of how to serve as council leaders.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just want to be prepared,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n
Hale added the council was free to choose how they wanted to select the city\u2019s next leaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s your process,\u201d he told councilmembers.<\/p>\n
Due to a lack of qualifying candidates, the city\u2019s April 8th election was cancelled.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Councilmembers are paid $400 pe r month.<\/p>\n