McCullough, Voigts Tapped to Lead City

When 2012 rolls around, City Councilwoman will take up the post of mayor of Lake Forest.

McCullough was chosen for the yearlong job by a 3-1 vote at the council's Tuesday meeting.

"[The mayorship] should never be a dictatorship," McCullough said afterward, looking gratified. "I just had to say that."

The comment was apparently aimed at the city's current mayor, , who has served six terms as mayor in his 17 years on the council.

"I'll just leave that one alone," Herzog responded.

McCullough previously served once before as mayor of Lake Forest, in 2000.

Councilwoman , who has nominated McCullough for the position every year since 1996, continued that pattern Tuesday. She has previously said to show the council values diversity (McCullough is African-American).

Her nomination drew the support of McCullough herself and Councilman .

In Lake Forest, being mayor is a largely ceremonial title bestowed upon a City Council member each year. The mayor leads council meetings and acts as unofficial spokesperson for the city. The mayor pro tem serves as an assistant and alternate.

Voigts, who was sworn in a year ago, will be the city's mayor pro tem come Jan. 1.

He, McCullough and Rudolph voted him in to replace the current mayor pro tem, Mark Tettemer, who was absent Tuesday.

Voigts grinned widely when selected, but made no public statement.

Herzog nominated Tettemer for both the mayorship, and then to be mayor pro tem, but received no support.

Herzog said at the meeting that Tettemer was absent from the meeting because he was ill with a high fever. He asked fellow council members to postpone four issues on the agenda—including the vote to select a mayor and mayor pro tem—until the council reconvenes Dec. 20.

Rudolph adamantly refused, asserting that Tettemer could have sent in his thoughts on the night's issues in writing.

Voting on who should lead the council took place shortly before 11 p.m. Typically, the council agrees to postpone any items left unaddressed by 10:30 p.m., but in this case it chose to slog through.