By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rio City Council members on Tuesday unanimously elected veteran Councilman Jim DeReus as the city’s new mayor pro tempore.
The council had attempted the election of a new mayor pro-tem during its July 9 meeting.
The mayor pro tempore, sometime shortened to mayor pro-tem, is selected by the city council members following each biennial election to stand in for the mayor when the mayor is absent or unable to serve in that capacity. In some cities, the mayor pro tempore is called the vice mayor.
It appeared, during the July 9 meeting, that the council had
who supported her for the position of mayor pro-tem, then made a motion to nominate a
senior colleague, Councilman Jim DeReus, for the position. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
selected freshman Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez as its new mayor pro-tem on a 3-2-2 vote, with three members voting for Gutierrez, two voting against and Gutierrez and DeReus abstaining.
However, as City Secretary Mari Acosta wrote in an informational handout to the council as part of its agenda package for Tuesday’s meeting, “Upon investigation, we discovered an error in our process.
“Article 2, Section 25 of the City Charter provides that the affirmative vote of four (4) members of the council shall be sufficient and necessary to adopt or repeal any ordinance or resolution unless a greater number be required elsewhere by this charter or law. As it is determined that the votes taken to pass Resolution 2024-093 are not sufficient for the appointment of a mayor pro tempore and as such the proposed resolution was not properly adopted,” Acosta wrote.
Acosta announced the agenda item, a new resolution to provide for the appointment of a mayor pro tempore, during Tuesday’s meeting, and Mayor Al Arreola called for a motion on the resolution.
Gutierrez said, “I have a motion. Mayor, I move to nominate Councilman Jim DeReus to serve as mayor pro-tem. I humbly thank all who considered me for this position at the last city council meeting.
“However, one of my goals is to provide support and respect to each other here on the council, as professional representatives of our city and our citizens. There will be times that we will have dissenting votes, but I don’t believe this is that time. It is my hope that we can be unanimous in supporting my nominee, Councilman Jim DeReus, for mayor pro-tem,” Gutierrez said.
Councilman J.P. Sanchez gave the second.
There were no further comments or questions from the council. Arreola called for the vote, and Gutierrez’s motion to nominate DeReus passed on a unanimous vote.
“Thank you,” DeReus said before a round of applause swept the council chambers.
After the meeting, DeReus, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who now works as a government civilian at Laughlin Air Force Base and who has served on the council since 2018, told the 830 Times, “I appreciate the confidence the rest of the council placed in me to represent the city.”
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
