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A decision made just two weeks earlier was reversed last week after Dripping Springs City Council members engaged in a lengthy and sometimes critical discussion over leadership, political influence and the interest of "change" for the future direction of the city.
Following nearly 30 minutes of debate, council members voted to reconsider a May 19 decision that had appointed Council Member Geoffrey Tahauhua as mayor pro tem. After reopening the matter, the council voted to reappoint Council Member Taline Manassian to the position.
The discussion was prompted by Council Member Sherrie Parks, who sponsored the agenda item seeking reconsideration of the previous vote.
Parks said she wanted to revisit the issue after reflecting on the council's earlier decision, which was approved with limited discussion at the end of the previous meeting.
"I thought it was super important to have a discussion about who we appoint as mayor pro tem," Parks said. "I appreciate that Council Member Tahauhua is willing to step up and serve in that position. I do have concerns about all he has on his plate right now with a county judge race, his job, a young family at home."
Tahauhua, who is the Republican nominee for Hays County judge, said he accepted the original nomination for mayor pro tem because he believed residents wanted to see new leadership and new perspectives represented on the council.
"When I was elected, I was elected to put forth some change," Tahauhua said. "I think that new leadership and new perspective is helpful."
Tahauhua said that he would support a motion to make Parks mayor pro tem, but that it was important to him that there was new leadership in the position in place of Manassian.
Newly elected Council Member Ana Grace Husted echoed those comments, saying many residents she spoke with during her campaign expressed a desire for change.
"I think one aspect in which we can affect change is by thoughtfully re-evaluating leadership roles on city council," Husted said. "I think we need someone new in the position to sort of challenge us and start thinking in different ways than we might have been leading in the past couple years."
Mayor Bill Foulds disagreed, arguing that the mayor pro tem position carries no additional authority beyond serving as a backup to the mayor when necessary.
"Mayor pro tem does not have any authority, doesn't have any more power, doesn't have any access to council members or staff members that every council member doesn't have," Foulds said.
Foulds also expressed concerns about Tahauhua serving in the role while running for Hays County judge and said he believed Manassian had performed well as mayor pro tem.
The discussion became more pointed when Manassian raised concerns about the council's changing composition following the recent election.
Tahauhua is the president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Texas, a construction industry advocacy organization, where Husted works. Manassian said she opposed Husted's candidacy before the election because she questioned whether Husted could remain independent while working in the same organization as a fellow council member who is also her supervisor.
Manassian said her concerns extended beyond the mayor pro tem appointment itself. She argued that having two council members employed by the same organization could create questions about independence, transparency and public perception, particularly when the city is regularly faced with development and growth-related issues.
"We now have two lobbyists for builders and contractors on this body and one of them works for the other," Manassian said. "That causes me tremendous concern for us as a city and I think it compromises our integrity."
Tahauhua rejected those concerns and defended both his and Husted's independence.
He said he supported Husted's candidacy because he believed she was committed to serving the community and argued that sharing an employer does not prevent council members from acting independently.
"The reason why I supported Ana Grace was because I felt it was important to have someone who was present and involved and committed to doing the work," Tahauhua said.
Tahauhua criticized former Council Member Wade King, stating he felt King "abandoned that long ago.” He also disputed the characterization that he and Husted were advocating for specific developments or projects.
"There are lobbyists who advocate for a specific thing," Tahauhua said. "We advocate for a set of principles.
He said that those ideals were “more holistic and altruistic ideals” and that they are not “lobbying for a specific project or specific entity. So to just say we’re evil lobbyists, or insinuate that, it is extremely frustrating to me.”
Husted also pushed back against suggestions that she was serving someone else's agenda.
"I proved to the public that I'm my own person," Husted said. "I do not listen to others. I do not listen to someone that happens to be my colleague during my day job."
Council Member Travis Crow said he supported reopening the discussion because he believed the council needed to improve working relationships and continue having difficult conversations.
"I don't want us all to agree all the time because I don't think we serve the city all agreeing," Crow said. "I don't mind these hard discussions."
After further discussion, the council voted to reconsider the May 19 appointment. Once the issue was reopened, Foulds spoke in support of retaining Manassian, saying she often provides perspectives different from his own and serves as an important counterbalance during council discussions.
After the council voted to reconsider the previous appointment, Parks and Crow nominated Manassian to continue serving as mayor pro tem. The motion passed on a 3-2 vote, with Tahauhua and Husted opposed, restoring Manassian to the position she had previously held.
The debate highlighted emerging philosophical differences among council members following the recent election and offered an early glimpse into how the newly constituted council may approach future discussions on city leadership and policy.
