BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Palo Alto City Council tonight (Jan. 8) picked Greer Stone to be mayor and Ed Lauing to be vice mayor.
Lauing was picked on a 4-3 vote over Councilwoman Vicki Veenker, while Stone received broad support from his colleagues.
The selection puts Lauing in line to be mayor in 2025. He was backed by Stone, outgoing Mayor Lydia Kou and Councilman Pat Burt.
Lauing’s supporters said Lauing had the temperament, strategic mindset and experience for the job.
Lauing was on the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Planning and Transportation Commission for a total of 13 years before he was elected to council in 2022. He was chair of those commissions five times, and his former colleagues spoke in his favor at tonight’s meeting.
“He is collegial. He is balanced. He is fair,” Commissioner Doria Summa said.
“I found him to be very productive and very capable,” Commissioner Keith Reckdahl said.
Stone will need support in the mayor’s role from Lauing because he is a teacher and works during the school day, Burt said.
“Throw it my way, I can handle it,” Lauing said.
Councilman Greg Tanaka, who is in his eighth and final year without holding a leadership position, nominated Veenker to be mayor. Veenker called his nomination “truly flattering and humbling” but turned it down, and Stone won on a 6-1 vote.
Councilwoman Julie Lythcott-Haims nominated Veenker for vice mayor, and Veenker accepted her nomination.
Out of 18 public comments, 11 people supported Veenker and seven supported Lauing.