New mayor and pro tem will be chosen

MIKE POSEY, mayor of Huntington Beach will hand over his gavel to another council member, probably Erik Peterson, on Monday night (Orange County Tribune photo).

A new mayor, a new mayor pro tem and a new member will be sworn in at tonight’s meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council.

Based on a protocol established by the council years ago, the expected new mayor is Erik Peterson, the current mayor pro tem. The expected mayor pro tem is Lyn Semeta.

In Surf City, the mayor is not directly elected by voters, but instead is chosen from among council members, based on a formula including who is the top vote getter and rotation in office. But the council can decide to go outside that policy and make different choices.

The newly-elected member is Kim Carr, who will be replacing William “Billy” O’Connell on the council. All the Nov. 6 winners, including City Attorney Michael Gates – and the new mayor and mayor pro tem – will be sworn in and have an opportunity to speak.

The council will meet in its chambers in the Civic Center at 6 p.m. at 2000 Main St., at Yorktown Avenue.