The Palo Alto City Council is poised to elect a new mayor and vice mayor this evening, at its first meeting of the new year.

According to City Council Member Greg Schmid, mayoral candidates are nominated by members of the City Council for election.

While the vice mayor has historically been next in line for the mayoral seat, Schmid points out that no sure predictions can be made until the actual election.

“Candidates for mayor and vice mayor are nominated by fellow council members; it is usual that the vice mayor is elected mayor,” Schmid said. “[However], since the Brown Act forbids more than four of the nine council members to talk to each other about a public vote in private, no one knows for sure who the next mayor will be before the night of the election.”

Mayoral terms last for one year, with elections held annually at the first City Council session of the year.

“The City Council elects one of its members to be mayor for a one-year term,” Schmid said. “The election takes place each year at the first meeting in January, [which] coincides with the swearing in of any newly elected Council members.”

The Palo Alto City Council is scheduled to meet at 7:00 p.m. today.