Council reappoints Vernon as mayor pro tem

City Council member Monica Vernon Tuesday night was reappointed by her council colleagues as mayor pro tem on the recommendation of Mayor Ron Corbett.

The vote, though, was 6-3.

Council members Chuck Wieneke and Kris Gulick, who along with council member Tom Podzimek, voted “no,” said they thought that only the three council members elected at-large in addition to the mayor should serve as mayor pro tem. District 2 council member Vernon is one of five council members elected by district.

After the meeting, Vernon noted that the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives is third in line to be president of the United States, and the current speaker is elected in one part of one of 50 states.

Wieneke made reference to the shooting of a Congresswoman over the weekend in Tuscon, Ariz., to make the point that unforeseen events happen, and he said someone elected by all of Cedar Rapids, not just by a council district, should be in a position to take the mayor's place should the mayor not be able to continue in the job.