The Madison City Council elected Ald. Austin King, District 8, to be the Council's next president for the 2006-07 year in an 11-8 vote Tuesday night. King beat out Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, who was also nominated for the position.

Additionally, the Council also elected Ald. Paul Skidmore, District 9 — the only member nominated for the position — as the President Pro Temper at the meeting.

King, who will succeed current President Ald. Paul Van Rooy, District 18, is one of the youngest members of the Council to serve as president.

"[Council President] is really more of a grunt job than anything else, but I'm very thankful for the support," King said after the election.

As president of the Council, he will oversee staff, communicate with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, and also fill in for the mayor if he is unable or unavailable to perform his duties. Skidmore will serve as the Council's vice president, filling in for King whenever he is unable to perform his official duties.

Although this is Cnare's first year on the Council, Ald. Judy Compton, District 16, said Cnare would have been more qualified, despite her lack of experience. The president must be qualified as an administrator and must be a positive representation of the body to the public, she added.

King recognized Cnare's achievements and congratulated her before the Council after the election.

"She is just a rookie, but she has a great future ahead of her," he said.

While King received the majority of the votes at last night's meeting, he was defeated last year when he received only seven votes.

He noted his appreciation for the significant increase in votes this year, and added he was surprised with some of the alders who voted for him.

"I'm very grateful to have won with 11 votes," he remarked. "It's a pretty significant improvement for me."

Even though he will receive several official duties, King said there is not much to change in the Council as president. He noted overall the position keeps business and communication running within the Council.

However, since Council meetings are not known for their brevity, King expressed desires for improving agendas to make meetings run more consistently and smoothly.

"I want to keep the ship steady, there's not much to change [about the Council]," King added. "But we've had some meetings go until 5 a.m. and some end at 6:45 [p.m.] and I think getting some balance [is left to] the role of the president."