The Detroit City Council officially selected Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins as its president, replacing the missing-in-action Charles Pugh.
Members also elected Andre Spivey as the body's president pro tem, replacing Gary Brown. Brown resigned from Council last month to take a job with Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr.
"I don't think anyone at this table would find itself in the situation it's in, even two weeks ago," Jenkins said about the situations that led to her appointment as Council president.
Both Jenkins and Spivey were elected in 2009. Jenkins is the former chief of the staff to the late Maryann Mahaffey, who served on Council for more than 30 years and twice served as Council president.
The council also voted to its restructure committees to accommodate their smaller size. Council consolidated the previous five committees into three committees.
In addition to Pugh and Brown, Councilman Kwame Kenyatta left the body last month. Orr directed Council to not fill those vacancies as a cost-saving move. Voters will elect a new Council in November, so this six-member Council structure will only last through the end of the year.
Both Jenkins and Spivey seek re-election this year. Jenkins in running for an at-large seat and Spivey is attempting to win in the new Fourth District.
