Though he has never actually run in an election, deputy St. Louis County administrator Gary Eckenberg will serve for a second time as a city councilor, filling the seat vacated by Roger Reinert.
Eckenberg was selected for the position after a series of votes by the council Monday night. As the city prepares to grapple with another multimillion- dollar budget deficit, Eckenberg now is arguably the second-most-powerful person in city politics, becoming the swing vote on a council often split 4-4 on financial issues, such as tax and fee increases.
Which political side will Eckenberg be on?
"Smack dab [in the middle]," he said. "It's going to make me a swing vote very often."
Eckenberg's moderate political views, prior experience and vow to not run again helped him win the seat. He was one of 35 applicants for Reinert's job and had to make his way through a gantlet of council votes to win the appointment. He was the top vote-getter when the applicants were narrowed down to 10 last month, and then the top vote-getter again when the applicants were narrowed down to five Monday night.
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After four split ballots, councilor Jim Stauber, who had supported runner-up Becky Hall, announced he was changing his vote to Eckenberg, who was Stauber's top choice during the first rounds of voting.
Eckenberg first served on the council from 2000 to 2002, when he was appointed to complete the final two years of a four-year term. During that time, he was instrumental in the passage of the city's smoke-free ordinance, which banned smoking in most public places.
Eckenberg, who has said he won't run for election in the fall, said he ran to help constituents "work through the maze of government." Shortly after being sworn in, Eckenberg cast his first controversial vote. He voted in favor of tabling a proposal to transfer management of the Lake Superior Zoo to the Lake Superior Zoological Society. Eckenberg said he would have been ready to vote for the transfer, but also said he would have appreciated more information before doing so.
