The Aurora City Council on Monday elected at-large councilmember Dustin Zvonek as the city’s new mayor pro tem, which holds the responsibilities of the mayor in his absence.

Zvonek takes over the position from former mayor pro tem and re-elected at-large councilmember Curtis Gardner.

The mayor pro tem is chosen by members with a majority vote at the first council meeting in December.

The position’s duties include the following, according to the city code:

• Perform mayor’s duties and responsibilities in mayor’s absence.

• Arrange location, agenda and logistics for council workshops after asking council for input.

• Accept donations and make arrangements for special occasions, like birthdays, deaths, etc., that council wants to recognize.

• Final authority in making official assignments for committees, including assignments for chairpersons and vice chairpersons.

Councilmembers who want to be considered as mayor pro tem have to write a notification letter to council by Nov. 15 stating their interest in the position.

Zvonek and at-large councilmember Alison Coombs both submitted letters.

Zvonek was voted into the position with eight “yes” votes from the conservative members of council and three “no” votes from progressive councilmembers Alison Coombs, Crystal Murillo and Ruben Medina.

Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky made the motion to appoint Zvonek, and councilmember Francoise Bergan echoed the support, saying he has shown “just by his actions on city council that he would be a really productive mayor pro tem.”

In Zvonek’s letter to council, he said he would “effectively fulfill all the required duties” of the position.

“I would leverage the responsibilities for the annual workshops to facilitate a productive and comprehensive planning process between Council, the Mayor, city staff, and external partners to establish a clear vision, and updated strategic objectives, that can serve as a guide as we work together to move the city forward,” he wrote in the letter.