Hutto City Council Member Dan Thornton is the city's new mayor pro tem, a position that was left vacant after former Mayor Pro Tem Tanner Rose resigned from council in January.

The mayor pro tem is a council member who assumes the responsibilities of mayor if the mayor is absent or unable to perform their duties.

Council nominated Thornton for the position in a 4-3 vote Feb. 10 and subsequently confirmed his appointment in a 5-2 vote. Council Members Peter Gordon and Debbie Holland were also possible nominees.

"[Thornton]'s got experience on several boards; he's even keeled; [and] he seems to really look at things a different way than a lot of us tend to," Mayor Mike Snyder said.