The president of the council shall serve as the mayor pro tempore until the vacancy in the office of the mayor is filled by appointment or election

In the case of a temporary absence or temporary incapacitation of the president of the council, or a vacancy in the office of the president of the council, the vice president of the council shall serve as the mayor pro tempore until the earliest of the following occurs: (1) The temporary absence or temporary incapacitation of the president of the council concludes; (2) The vacancy in the office of the president of the council is filled; or (3) The vacancy in the office of the mayor is filled by appointment or election. A resignation by the mayor must be in writing and must specify the effective date of the resignation. A temporary absence or temporary incapacitation of the mayor is not a vacancy in the office of the mayor. Source: SL 1890, ch 37 , art III, § 2; RPolC 1903, §§ 1182, 1184; SL 1907, ch 89 ; RC 1919, § 6205; SDC 1939, § 45.0701; SL 1959, ch 267 ; SL 1981, ch 64 ; SL 2005, ch 48 , § 1; SL 2017, ch 56 , § 3; SL 2025, ch 38 , § 19; SL 2026, ch 32 , § 8; SL 2026, ch 33 , § 1.