GARDEN GROVE : Chung Is Selected Mayor Pro Tem

Ho Chung was selected mayor pro tem by his council colleagues Tuesday night.

Chung, 59, the first native of South Korea to be elected to the City Council, promised to work hard “and do my best to make all residents proud of me.”

Chung’s selection to the largely ceremonial position was limited to six months instead of the usual full term of 12 months after concerns were raised by council member Bruce A. Broadwater.

Broadwater said he would vote for a full 12-month term for Chung only if Chung said publicly that he wouldn’t run for mayor. Broadwater said he believed that Chung might use the mayor pro tem position as a springboard for the job of mayor that voters will decide next November in citywide elections.

Broadwater said Tuesday that he will be a candidate for mayor.

He said he wouldn’t accept the position of mayor pro tem, had it been offered, because he didn’t want the title to become enmeshed in politics.

Chung declined to disclose his political intentions, and council members then voted unanimously to make him mayor pro tem for six months. Chung’s term may be extended, council members said.

Chung said Wednesday that Broadwater had no right to ask the question about his political future. Chung said he has given no consideration to running for mayor but didn’t want to make any public commitment.

He said that he was happy with the abbreviated term because he was able to garner all five votes on the council.

Chung replaced Robert F. Dinsen as mayor pro tem. In other reorganization, Mayor Frank Kessler replaced Chung as vice chairman of the Agency for Community Development. Mark Leyes was elected chairman of the agency for a second year.