Eramo elected City Council president

Though members of the City Council were not up for re-election in 2014, they began the new year with some leadership changes at Tuesday’s meeting, where they voted unanimously to elect Councilman Anthony Eramo their new president.

The council voted 4-0 to name Eramo president as it reverted back to its practice of rotating the council presidency. Councilwoman Eileen Goggin did not attend.

Prior to the vote, Council President Scott Mandel — who served in the role for two years amid the city’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy — thanked his colleagues and said he was proud to see Eramo take the position.

“It’s truly been a privilege and honor to serve as president, especially after the many challenges during the Sandy recovery, which is still ongoing,” he said. “In keeping with our policy to rotate the council presidency and keeping things fresh, we’ve decided to change.”

Eramo is up for re-election this year, following a two-year term.

Mandel nominated Councilman Len Torres — who had served as president for six months, including during Sandy — to serve as temporary president. After Torres was voted in unanimously, he said he would like to extend the opportunity to someone new, and nominated Eramo.

“I certainly appreciate the opportunity that I’ve had on the City Council,” Torres said. “I’ve already had the opportunity to be president on the City Council — I appreciate … your nomination, but at this point right now I feel that I should give someone else the opportunity to be president, someone who has shown tremendous talent and dedication to this city.”

Eramo, 40, received a round of applause after the vote, and said he was “humbled” and “excited.”

“I look forward to continuing the great work that this council has done over the past few years,” Eramo said. “Getting the city out of the brink of bankruptcy and getting us back after Sandy, stronger, smarter and safer. Now I have work to do, right?”

Torres, who is also up for re-election in November, was chosen as vice president, taking over Councilwoman Fran Adelson’s post.