The regular City Election shall be held on the first Saturday
in November, or at such other time as is prescribed by state law,
at which time officers shall be elected to fill those offices which
become vacant that year. The City Council shall fix the hours and
place for holding such elections. All candidates for the City Council
shall file for one place and shall be elected to that place by obtaining
greater than 50% of the votes cast. Places 1, 3, and 5 shall be up
for election and filled in the same year. The Mayor’s office
and places 2, 4 and 6 shall be up for election and filled in the same
year.
(Amended at election of May 4, 2002; Amended by Ordinance 728-02 at an election held
on May 4, 2002; Amended by Res. R-27-18 at an election held on November 6, 2018, prop.
A)
The Council shall make all regulations considered to be necessary
or desirable which are not inconsistent with this Charter or the laws
of the State of Texas, for the conduct of municipal elections, or
for the prevention of fraud, and shall make provisions for recount
of the ballots in case of doubt or fraud. The Council will appoint
election officials who will conduct the municipal elections consistent
with this Charter, regulations made by the Council and the laws of
the State of Texas. The Council shall provide for the compensation
of all election officials in City Elections and for all other expenses
of holding such elections.
Any qualified person who desires to become a candidate for election
to the office of Mayor or City Council Member shall file with the
City Secretary, not less than forty-five (45) days prior to the election,
an application on the form provided by the City Secretary, which form
shall be in accordance with State law.
(Amended by Ordinance 728-02 at
an election held on May 4, 2002)
The official ballot shall be drawn up by the City Secretary
and approved by the City Attorney and will contain the names of all
candidates for office, except those who may have been withdrawn, deceased
or become ineligible. The ballot shall have the designation of the
particular office (Mayor or Councilmember) and under the appropriate
designation shall appear the applicable place numbers. Names will
be placed under each place without party designation and position
will be determined by drawing conducted by the City Secretary.
The returns of every municipal election shall be delivered forthwith
by the election judges to the Mayor. The Council shall canvass the
returns, investigate the qualifications of the candidates and declare
the official results of the election in the manner and within the
time provided by law and deliver the votes to the City Secretary.
Returns of every municipal election shall be recorded in the minutes
of the Council. The candidate for Mayor who receives the majority
of ballot votes, by qualified voters at the election, shall be declared
elected. The candidates for election to the places of Councilmembers,
who receive the majority of ballot votes, for each place cast by qualified
voters voting at the election shall be declared elected. The results
of said election shall be posted in the City Hall as soon as they
are declared official.
The City Council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications
of its own members, but the decision of the Council in any case shall
be subject to review by the Courts.
In the event any candidate for any of said officers fails to
receive greater than fifty percent (50%) of all votes cast for all
the candidates for such office at such election, the Council shall
on the first day following completion of the official counting of
the ballots cast at said first election, issue a call for a second
election to be held in the City within thirty (30) days, at which
said second election the two candidates receiving the highest number
of votes for any such office in the first election at which no one
was elected at the first election by receiving greater than fifty
percent (50%) of all votes cast for all candidates for such election,
shall again be voted for. In the event of a tie between two candidates
for any office at said second election, they shall cast lots to determine
who shall be elected to such office.
(Amended at election of May 4, 2002)
The Council may, by ordinance or resolution, call such special
election as are authorized by the state law and this Charter, fix
the time and place of holding same, and provide all means for holding
such special elections, provided that every special election shall
be called and held as nearly as practicable according to the provisions
of the general election laws of the State of Texas.