Menlo Park: Mayoral gavel-passing expected to cause sparks Menlo Park: Mayoral gavel-passing expected to cause sparks (December 07, 2005)

Expect fireworks when the Menlo Park City Council chooses a new mayor and mayor pro tem at its meeting on Tuesday, December 6.

The council has a policy, adopted in 1993, that says members who have served at least one year, but have not been mayor, should be first in line for the mayoral chair.

Under the policy, Councilwoman Kelly Fergusson or Councilman Andy Cohen should be passed the gavel.

But the policy does not have the force of law, and Mayor Mickie Winkler and Councilwoman Lee Duboc have hinted that they don't plan to follow it.

The policy can be disregarded with a majority vote.

A handful of Menlo Park residents have strongly encouraged the council to adhere to the policy through e-mails to the City Council and letters to local newspapers.

If history repeats itself, Mayor Winkler and Ms. Duboc will support Councilman Nicholas Jellins for mayor. Mr. Jellins was appointed mayor twice, including in 2002 -- the last time the council disregarded the policy. In that instance, Councilman Chuck Kinney was passed over.

When asked if he would accept a mayoral nomination at the upcoming meeting, Mr. Jellins replied, "I don't know."

Mayor Winkler, Ms. Duboc and Mr. Jellins are serving terms that expire in 2006.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at the Civic Center.
Check AlmanacNews.com Wednesday to see who the city's next mayor and mayor pro tem is.

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