Councilman Ed Gonzalez is the Matt Leinart of the City Council today.
With Mayor Annise Parker in Israel, Gonzalez chairs today’s council meeting in his capacity as acting mayor pro tem. The title basically means he shows up where the mayor can’t or won’t. He also takes the gavel temporarily at meetings when the mayor leaves the dais to eat, drink, make phone calls or blow off steam about a council member’s comments.
If Gonzalez leaves the dais, it’s not clear who takes over, because despite city ordinance calling for a vice mayor who would be third in line of succession, the city has operated without one for nearly a year. Councilwoman Anne Clutterbuck resigned as mayor pro tem in December. Parker promoted Gonzalez to acting mayor pro tem but has not filled the vice mayor slot Gonzalez had filled.
Leinart will lead the Texans for the rest of the season. Gonzalez just quarterbacks today. Parker is scheduled to return over the weekend.
