Ward 3 Councilwoman Mary Cheh is the D.C. Council's new second-in-command, replacing Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans as chair pro tempore.

Council Chairman Kwame Brown made the announcement Monday morning. Much of the position is ceremonial, although it does mean that Cheh will now sit next to Brown during council meetings and even take Brown's seat if the chairman is absent.

Cheh campaigned heavily for Brown in her Ward 3, while Evans didn't weigh in on the chairman's race. Evans is the council's longest serving member and held the pro tempore job for the past 12 years.

The sign outside Cheh's office that indicates it's hers was already updated to show her new status when her staff arrived Monday morning.