The City Council meeting tonight was full of fireworks even before Mayor Bryce pushed his pet fireworks show project to the public. The meeting was primarily to nominate and select a new Mayor Pro-Tempore. It was anything but a traditional formality.
Mayor Bryce nominated Scott Lindsey for the Pro-Tem position and asked for a second. No second was forthcoming. The room was silent. Scott Lindsey read a prepared "statement of outrage" about the lack of a second in the room. It was a hypocritical/cynical attempt by the mayor to push his choice through. Scott looked like a chump reading this prepared statement.
Councilperson Eric Smith would have none of this by the "so called mayor". He called out Mayor Bryce citing a personal phone call regarding the Pro-Tem position. He intimated that it was about the position but would not disclose the subject of the call. The comments between the Mayor, Scott Lindsey and Eric Smith were heated and politically driven. It was almost as good as Dallas City Council shouting matches between Al Lipscomb and Laura Miller "in the day". At the end, the Mayor dropped the subject, no one was nominated again and the entire pro-tempore process has been derailed until the next meeting.
Analysis:
- The mayor was KO'd in the second round by a set of council members that would not be cowed. Hope he gets the notice!
The mayor was shown to "have no clothes" in this arena. His leadership was suspect as he watched his crafted performance to achieve his goals of having his people in the power seats of the Council crumble as the Council sat in silence waiting for someone to second the nomination. That silence was deafening for all in chambers. - Mr. Smith is and will be the "kingmaker" for the next several months as both the pro and anti Mayor groups woo him for swing votes. Hopefully Mr. Smith can weather the BS and be his own person-representing the people in HIS place.
Bottom Line:
A big split has opened up between the pro Mayor faction and the anti City Manager faction. This is the opening two rounds. I'm hoping Pfiefer has his resume ready
Score: Anti City Manager folks: 2 Mayor: Nil
