1 Xavier Mota
From: Ellis Raskin <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 10:40 AM
To: councilmtgitems; Gleam Davis; Lana Negrete; Phil Brock; Oscar de la Torre; Christine Parra; Caroline Torosis; Jesse Zwick
Cc: Douglas Sloan; David White; Clerk Mailbox
Subject: Agenda Item 16.B: "Vice Mayor" v. "Mayor Pro Tempore"
EXTERNAL
Dear Hon. Councilmembers,
Government should be accessible and understandable to the people. For that reason, I support using titles of public office that are easily understood.
While Latin may be a lingua obscura in today's world, I do think it's worth noting that there is a good reason why the City uses the title "pro tempore." The Latin term "pro tempore" means "for the time being." Accordingly, the title of the position correctly reflects the fact that the Mayor Pro Tempore's only official function is to assume the duties of the Mayor in the Mayor's absence. Charter Section 604(b) lists the official duties of the position as follows:
Mayor Pro Tempore. The City Council shall also designate one of its members as Mayor Pro Tempore.
The Mayor Pro Tempore shall perform the duties of the Mayor during the Mayor’s absence or disability.
But to the extent we can make government and official titles more comprehensible to the public, we should aspire to do so.
Best,
Ellis Raskin
ITEM 16.B.
December 19, 2023
ITEM 16.B.
December 19, 2023