by SEAN KIMMONS
The “new guard” of the Kyle City Council flexed its muscle Tuesday night to help catapult Councilmember Russ Huebner to the city’s mayor pro-tem slot, recently vacated by outgoing Councilmember Michelle Lopez.
Four of the council’s newest councilmembers, including two who were on the dais for the first time, sidestepped Mayor Lucy Johnson’s decision to nominate veteran Councilmember David Wilson to the honorary role.
After the council voted 3 to 4 for Wilson to become mayor pro-tem, the council unanimously voted to pick Huebner.
Newly elected Councilmembers Brad Pickett and Diane Hervol, along with Councilmembers Jaime Sanchez and Huebner, who have been on the council since late February, were the dissenters in the initial vote.
“I’m definitely excited about it,” said Huebner, a local banker. “I think there’s a lot that the city has ahead of it, mainly pertaining to the budget moving forward.”
“Mayor, you are our leader,” he added. “If there were ever an issue where you couldn’t attend, I’d look forward to stepping up and taking that role.”
