ANAHEIM : Council Picks Lopez as Mayor Pro Tem

Lou Lopez is the City Council’s new mayor pro tem. And it didn’t come down to a matter of chance.

Under city policy, council members Lopez and Bob Zemel were both eligible to assume the honorary post, which has been held for the past year by Frank Feldhaus. The prescribed way to solve such a situation, the policy states, would have been for Lopez and Zemel to draw lots.

But lots were never drawn, because Zemel joined the other council members this week in voting unanimously to make Lopez the mayor pro tem.

His colleague deserved the honor, Zemel said, because Lopez was the top vote-getter in the November, 1994, council election. Zemel finished second in a field of 16 candidates vying for two council seats.

Before the council voted, however, Zemel questioned if Lopez would have sufficient time to carry out the various duties associated with the mayor pro tem post. These duties include representing the city at receptions, groundbreaking ceremonies, business openings and other events. The mayor pro tem also leads council meetings in the mayor’s absence.

Lopez, a veteran officer with the Anaheim Police Department, responded that he is working only four days a week and is willing to use accumulated vacation time, if necessary, to attend official functions.

Mayor Tom Daly said the mayor pro tem post is “vitally important” to Anaheim, a tourism center with major attractions including Disneyland, the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim Stadium and The Pond.

Outgoing Mayor Pro Tem Feldhaus said a detailed job description should be developed for the honorary and time-consuming post.