By Leon Worden | SCVNews.com
County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich plans to appoint Supervisor-elect Hilda Solis as chair pro-tem, or vice chair, Tuesday when he takes the helm as Los Angeles County mayor, according to the county agenda.
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As chairman of the county’s Board of Supervisors, Antonovich becomes de facto “mayor of Los Angeles County.”
No announcement to that effect has been made, but next Tuesday’s published agenda lists him as “mayor.”
Antonovich uses the title of mayor in lieu of “chairman” of the board.
Antonovich explained in the past that when he travels to other nations as L.A. County’s top elected representative, the significance of “chairman” isn’t nearly as clear to foreign officials as “mayor” of a county of 10 million people.
Solis, who was President Obama’s Labor Secretary from 2009 to 2013, and Sheila Kuehl, a child actress-turned-state lawmaker, were elected Nov. 4 to succeed 1st District Supervisor Gloria Molina and 3rd District Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky. Molina and Yaroslavsky participated in their last board meetings Tuesday after 20 and 23 years in office, respectively. Voter-approved term limits in 2002 ended their supervisorial careers this year.
Bound by the same term limits, Antonovich is entering his final two years in office.
First elected in 1980, Antonovich sought in 2012 to place a measure on the ballot to modify term limits such that he could have remained in office until 2024. But the move required the assent of the other supervisors; Molina abstained, Yaroslavsky voted no, and the motion failed.
If the current term limits stand, Antonovich, at 36 years in 2016, will miss the chance to become the longest-serving supervisor in county history.
That distinction belongs to Kenneth Hahn at 40 years (1952-1992).
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