Lynn Schott is Irvine’s new mayor pro tem

A changing of the guard, to a degree, on the Irvine City Council has the newest member, Lynn Schott, selected by fellow council members as the city’s new mayor pro tem.

Schott takes over the position from Councilman Jeff Lalloway, who served as mayor pro tem the past three years. Schott was elected to the council in November 2014.

The mayor of Irvine is chosen by voters during a general election every two years. The next election will be Nov. 8.

Lalloway nominated Schott for mayor pro tem at Tuesday’s regular meeting. She was selected in a 3-2 vote over fellow conservative Councilwoman Christina Shea, who was nominated by Mayor Steven Choi.

“It’s an important honor, I think, and a big responsibility. My commitment is to serve with the highest integrity,” Schott said.

“Lynn is a strong voice for women on the council, a strong voice for conservative women on the council,” Lalloway said. “So far, I’ve been incredibly impressed with how articulate she is. Her votes and her voice have been a breath of fresh air.”

The mayor pro tem functions as a substitute when the mayor is unavailable to preside at council meetings and other public functions.

“It is something that should be shared,” Lalloway said of passing the baton. “I pride myself on not being full time in government. I work and have a family, and with all these obligations in government, it’s very, very difficult.”

Lalloway also serves on the Orange County Transportation Authority, and his term as chairman expires this month.

For Schott, the position of mayor pro tem is a step forward in a life of public service that has been mostly under the radar. A career educator and business owner, Schott has volunteered for several community organizations and served on committees with the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and other groups since she moved to the city as a newlywed in 1985.

“It represents a level of service to the community that is a little bit greater,” Schott said. “It carries with it the opportunity to be able to address more members of the community at different events. Any time that we have any sort of ability to serve the public, I think that’s an honor.”

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Motto placement

In other council business Tuesday, a lengthy debate was settled over the design of, and where to place, the U.S. motto “In God We Trust” and the slogan “E Pluribus Unum” at City Hall.

Both were approved in July ahead of next year’s 60th anniversary of Congress’ official adoption of the national motto. The slogans will be displayed in ribbon-style banners atop the Freedom Shrine, displaying a history of public service, at the back of the council chamber.