While Mayor Paul Soglin takes a short leave of absence next week to undergo hip replacement surgery, the City Council president will take his place and perform the typical mayoral duties.
Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, will undertake Soglin’s duties as acting mayor while he is out of town, Soglin’s assistant Katie Crawley said.
Cnare said she does not expect any significant hurdles.
“The most often thing that will happen is that someone will need a document signed, like a contract or a 100th birthday proclamation, and I’ve signed a couple of those before,” Cnare said.
Cnare will continue to vote as a City Council member during city committee meetings.
Cnare said both the mayor’s office and city staff will help her to fulfill mayoral duties as she steps in for Soglin next week.
“We have a whole staff of people,” Cnare said. “I touch base with them every morning and every evening. I don’t expect to have to make any dramatic decisions at all; there are some things that are kind of routine. It should be quiet, and frankly if something really big does happen, we have all of the mayor’s staff and a really talented city staff.”
Soglin has often been called out of his office to participate in professional organizations, such as the United States Conference of Mayors, and the protocol for his temporary replacement is neither new nor difficult, Cnare said.
According to Crawley, Soglin left the office the week of Jan. 15 to attend several meetings. Cnare was also out of town, so President Pro Tempore, Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, District 5, acted as mayor and attended events in that capacity.
Soglin only plans to be out until the end of next week, Cnare said.
“He has set aside his surgery date and three or four days from that, and he will be available by phone,” Cnare said. “He’s very healthy. And it’s a thinking game, not a standing on your feet, physical game.”
Crawley said the process of standing in for the mayor is very standard, and Soglin is very confident that everything will run smoothly.