City Council newbies scored some prime leadership positions when long-awaited committee assignments were doled out this week.
Other long-time members were passed over by Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones — including some who fought the mayor’s plans to institute new policy-making procedures earlier this week.
The mayor alone has the power to create committees and assign their membership, but typically only the council’s most senior members hold chairmanships.
Instead Jones named Councilman Ric Galvan (D6), a 24-year-old former council staffer who was elected in June, to chair both the Community Health Committee and a newly created Educational Opportunities Committee.
Councilman Edward Mungia (D4), another council newcomer, will lead the Planning and Community Development Committee.
Asked about the decision to promote new members so quickly, Jones said Galvan and Mungia brought plenty of City Hall experience from their past roles. Galvan was previously a special projects manager in the District 5 office, and Mungia worked under two District 4 council members in various roles before running for the seat himself this year.
“I think we’ve got an embarrassment of riches on the council, particularly some folks that may be in their first term, but have deep familiarity and expertise that I think make them well postured to lead these committees,” Jones told the Report.
Another close ally of the mayor, Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2), will chair the Municipal Court Advisory Committee and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee when he returns from paternity leave in October. Both committees have temporary chairs in the meantime.
Notably absent from the list of committee chairs were three returning council members.
Council members Teri Castillo (D5), Marina Alderete Gavito (D7) and Marc Whyte (D10) led an effort to stop Jones from implementing new policy-making procedures shortly after taking office, and filed a three-signature memo to force a special meeting on the issue Wednesday.
Earlier in the week council members were informed by the mayor’s office that the committees would be announced after that meeting — leading some to believe that their actions in the meeting could have an impact on their assignments.
Jones ultimately agreed to withdraw the new administrative directives they sought to stop, but neither Castillo, who is among the council’s most senior members, nor Whyte, who is in his second term, were given a committee chairmanship.
Alderete Gavito received a temporary assignment chairing the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee until McKee-Rodriguez returns.
Asked whether the decision was retribution for the three-signature memo, Jones said: “I’m focused on who I think can best lead the committees, and that’s what the memo reflects.”
Third-term Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran (D3) will chair the Audit Committee and the Economic and Workforce Development Committee. She will also temporarily chair the Municipal Court Advisory Committee for McKee-Rodriguez.
Councilwoman Sukh Kaur (D1) will chair the Public Safety Committee — a coveted position.
First-term Councilwoman Misty Spears (D9), one of just two conservatives on the dais, was assigned seats on the Public Safety Committee, Economic and Workforce Development Committee and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Newly elected Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez (D8) was placed on the Audit Committee, Community Health Committee and Economic and Workforce Development Committee.
Meza Gonzalez also has extensive prior City Hall experience, but was recently arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Though past council members have been censured and stripped of their committee assignments for such behavior, Jones said the council had discussed the issue and agreed Meza Gonzalez should be included.
“She has said that she wasn’t drinking, and I think we just need more information at this point,” Jones said. “In speaking with the council, that is an approach we all felt comfortable with … if something changes, then we’ll take appropriate action.”
