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Mostly Cloudy City Council at odds over presidency
Torres reappointed, but Goggin says Moore should take the lead
City Council President Len Torres was reappointed the council’s de facto leader on Jan. 1, but not before Councilwoman Eileen Goggin argued that newly minted Councilwoman Anissa Moore — who garnered the most votes in the November election — should serve as president.
When it came to naming the new president, Councilmen Anthony Eramo and Scott Mandel threw their support behind Torres, while Goggin nominated Moore. Goggin was applauded when she named Moore for the spot shortly after the city's inauguration ceremony that day, but the council voted 3-2 to elect Torres president, while Eramo was appointed vice president over Goggin. Moore and Goggin cast the dissenting votes.
Goggin, in a rare show of opposition, argued that Moore had earned the most votes in the November election and that the council’s pledge to rotate the council presidency every six months in the interest of transparency should continue, despite the inconsistency of its implementation since the Democrats took control of City Hall in 2012.
“Although this process has not been occurring, I nevertheless believe that rotation is a very good concept and should be followed,” she said. Goggin noted that Torres has “served diligently and faithfully,” but had been president for most of 2015.
“Anissa Moore has expressed a strong interest in taking on the challenge of president and working toward continued progress,” said Goggin. “Although she is new, she is nevertheless accomplished and brings to the council a fresh perspective and an independent voice.”
According to the city charter, the council may vote to change presidents at any time; Mandel had held the spot since January 2013, though it had resumed the six-month rotation a year ago. But Eramo was ousted from its presidency just a month later, with members citing “leadership issues,” and Torres has served in the seat since.
