Acting, deputy mayor roles explained

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on April 8, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Why does the city have an acting mayor and a deputy mayor? It’s a question that arises occasionally, most recently on Tuesday when two councillors were named to fill those roles for the next six months.
Belinda Crowson has taken on the role of acting mayor and Jenn Schmidt-Rempel deputy mayor. Crowson served as deputy mayor for the first six months of this council’s term.
The deputy mayor is a councillor appointed by other members of city council to act as mayor in the absence or incapacity of the mayor, according to the the City of Lethbridge website.
The acting mayor is a councillor who is appointed by fellow council members to act as the mayor in the absence or incapacity of both mayor and deputy mayor.
From Oct. 25 until March 31, Belinda Crowson served as deputy mayor and Rajko Dodic as acting mayor.
Starting April 1 Schmidt-Rempel and Crowson will hold their roles until Sept. 30.
From Oct. 1 until March 31, 2023, Ryan Parker will serve as deputy mayor and Schmidt-Rempel acting mayor.
From April 1, 2023 until Sept. 30, 2023, John Middleton-Hope will assume the role of deputy mayor while Parker moves into the acting mayor’s position.
Councillors will rotate in these positions until the end of the present council’s term in office.
Deputy mayors are paid a 10 per cent premium over their councillor remuneration while filling that role.
In December, city council unanimously approved a motion which gives the acting mayor a 5.3 per cent raise over a councillor’s regular compensation.
While in these positions, councillors take on additional committee work with the deputy mayor carrying a heavier load than the acting mayor.

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