Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One) today congratulated Councilmember Phil Mendelson on his election as interim Council chair and Michael Brown on his election as interim Council chair pro tempore.

“The change in Council leadership is an opportunity for us to reinvigorate our commitment to greater transparency.  Phil Mendelson and I have been colleagues on the Council for more than a decade and I have every confidence in his ability to be an excellent steward of the people’s interests.”

The DC City Council passed a resolution to make Councilmembers Phil Mendelson and Michael Brown Council chair and Council chair pro tempore, respectively.

The interim appointments follow the resignation of Council Chairman Kwame Brown and the replacement of Councilmember Mary Cheh as Council chair pro tempore.  Council rules require that the Council pro tempore position be filled by an at-large member of the Council following the resignation of the Council chair.