Evanston Council Selects Nieuwsma as Acting Mayor After Kelly's Controversial Pro Tem Week
Evanston City Council appointed Jonathan Nieuwsma as acting mayor in a 5-4 vote on Monday, ending a week of controversy involving Clare Kelly. Kelly, serving as mayor pro tem after Mayor Daniel Biss resigned, canceled a special meeting to extend her tenure, altered the agenda to chair the full session, and nominated several individuals to city boards. Critics questioned her motives, noting some nominees were past political supporters, while Kelly defended her actions as necessary to fill long-standing vacancies. The council’s decision to place the acting mayor vote at the end of the agenda allowed Kelly to lead the meeting, including a budget hearing and a high-rise proposal vote, before Nieuwsma was sworn in.