I understand that the City Council elected Gayle McLaughlin as vice-mayor last night, creating a potential future Charter crisis (similar to a Constitutional crisis).

Article III-A, Section 3(a) of the City Charter states, “No person may serve as Mayor for more than two full terms.” Gayle McLaughlin served two full terms, 2007 to 2015 and is therefore ineligible to serve as mayor.

Article II-A, Section 4, states, “Vice Mayor. The City Council shall elect from among its members a Vice Mayor. In the absence or disability of the Mayor, the Vice Mayor shall serve as the Mayor. The Vice Mayor shall also represent the Mayor upon his or her request. The Vice Mayor shall serve for a term of one year.”

If Mayor Eduardo Martinez becomes absent, disabled, or even deceased, then according to the Charter, Gayle McLaughlin “shall serve as mayor.”

But the Charter says she is “ineligible to serve as mayor.”

How does this work? Beats me. I’m not surprised that the incompetent and corrupt city attorney let this go without advising it was a bad idea.