For four days this week, Madison's Dave Cieslewicz will not be mayor. Instead, Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2, will assume his role. As president of the City Council, Konkel must fulfill Cieslewicz's duties while he spends the week lobbying in Washington, D.C.
Madison city law states that while the mayor is out of town, the president of the City Council automatically assumes the position of acting mayor. While many may think the job of acting mayor is every alder's dream come true, Konkel and former City Council President Mike Verveer, who also served as acting mayor, said the reality is more mundane.
\I would almost have to say that the key function of the acting mayor, largely, is to sign your name to city documents, especially contracts,"" Verveer said.
With modern technological advances such as the telephone and electronic mail, it is easy to stay in contact with the real mayor when he or she is out of town, several city officials said.
Despite this, there are some facets of city government that require a mayor to be present in person. Signing documents is one key aspect of the acting mayor's duties. The acting mayor can also fill in for the absent mayor at ceremonies.
With her one-year term on City Council coming to an end in April, Konkel estimates she has filled in for Cieslewicz about once every two months. In addition to her current stint as mayor, Konkel also served when Mayor Dave went to Italy and went deer hunting.
While the acting mayor only serves in short spurts, he or she has all the powers of the actual mayor, with a few exceptions. According to both Konkel and Verveer, there is some temptation to take advantage of the powers that are accorded to the mayor.
""I've actively thought about doing some proclamation about something while acting mayor of the city of Madison,"" Konkel said. ""I haven't done it yet,"" she added.
Yet the pressing question on the mind of everyone is this: Does the acting mayor get to sit in the mayor's chair?
""I've sat in his chair before, but not while acting mayor,"" Konkel said. ""I don't go into his office on a daily basis or anything.""
Although rare, conflicts between the acting mayor and elected mayor are possible. Former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin recalled a time when the acting mayor went against the will of the absent mayor.
He recounted an incident in the early 1970s when Mayor Bill Dyke opposed the purchase of a bus company by the city. Although the City Council overruled his veto, his signature was needed to complete the deal. According to Soglin, Dyke was out of town and ""no further than Maple Bluff"" when acting mayor Leo Cooper signed the required documents, sealing the deal.
