The Austin City Council got its newest mayor pro tem on Jan. 1 — and for the third time in a row, they are a UT alumnus.

Jose “Chito” Vela, the District 4 council member and UT alumnus, took over as mayor pro tem this year. The mayor pro tem fills in whenever the mayor is absent and attends events to advocate for Austinites, wrote Vanessa Fuentes, the previous mayor pro tem.

“It’s like being vice mayor,” Fuentes wrote. “It’s also a great way to connect more with the people who make our city so special.”

Vela, who’s been on the council since 2022, said he largely focused on his north-Austin district and spends most of his time there. In this new role, he will have to visit more of the city, Vela said.

“Being Mayor Pro Tem, you do have to take a broader view of the entire city,” Vela said. “ I’m excited to get to meet a whole set of people that you may not have run into before.”

Vela, the vice chair of the Housing & Planning committee, has been vocal about housing, transportation and public safety policy on social media. Vela’s main priority is building the light rail, part of Project Connect, a public transit program that is planned to serve the campus area.

Fuentes, the District 2 council member, held the role last year, but the city council switches the position yearly to ensure each member who wants to step into a leadership role has the chance to, Fuentes said. Last year, the city council appointed Fuentes to serve during 2025 and Vela to serve during 2026.

In the past, the mayor pro tem position was competitive and caused arguments within the city council before his time, said Vela. In 2020, the role generated controversy when U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Austin, — then a city council member — and other members publicly sparred over who should take the role. For the last five years, the city council has switched between mayor pro tems annually instead of biannually.

“We want to make sure all council members get the chance to serve as Mayor Pro Tem, so collaboration is critical,” Fuentes wrote. “The role is typically based on seniority, and since each term is only one year, it allows each council member the chance to step into the role.”