Reply To: Bringing Up a Son to be a Godol HaDor

Joseph,
1. The Rema says that that is only if he is like his father in yira and is knowledgeable.
2. The Avnei Nezer (312) says that that is only if most of the community wants the son.
3. In any case as in all such cases minhag trumps the default halacha (see, for example, Amud HaYemini of Rav Shaul Yisraeli, 12,5 – http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=43775&st=%d7%94%d7%a0%d7%9b%d7%a8%d7%99&pgnum=93 – regarding Knesset elections). Many kehillot had by-laws regarding who could be their rav. In Frankfurt there was even a rule that no one who disagreed with their rav regarding the Get of Cleves could be appointed.
4. For a wider discussion see “פרשת פנחס – ירושה ברבנות” on-line.