(a) 
Candidates for elective City offices must file for office in accordance with the Texas Election Code.
(b) 
Candidates for elective City offices must:
(1) 
be at least 21 years of age at the time of the election for which they are filing;
(2) 
be a qualified voter;
(3) 
have resided exclusively within the corporate limits of the City, or recently annexed territory, for at least 12 months before the filing date;
(4) 
at the time of filing or while in office, be current in payment of taxes or other liabilities due the City after notice of any delinquency;
(5) 
not file in a single election for more than one office or position as provided by this Charter;
(6) 
have filed with the City Secretary at the time of filing an application for a place on the ballot a petition that complies with the Texas Election Code and supports the candidate for the office with a minimum number of valid signatures that is the greater of: (i) 25; or (ii) one-half of one percent of the total vote received in the City by all candidates for mayor in the most recent mayoral general election; and
(7) 
comply with all other City ordinances or resolutions that may be applicable.
(c) 
If an incumbent elected City official elected to serve a four-year term shall announce their candidacy, or shall in fact become a candidate, in any General, Special or Primary Election, for any office of profit or trust under the laws of this State or the United States other than the office then held, at any time when the unexpired term of the office then held shall exceed one year, such announcement or such candidacy shall constitute an automatic resignation of the office then held, and the vacancy thereby created shall be filled under this Charter in the same manner as other vacancies for such office are filled.
(d) 
A City employee or officer may not continue in such employment or office after filing for an elective office provided for in this Charter.
(Ordinance 1160-2025-08 adopted 8/12/2025, approved at election of 11/4/2025)
(a) 
The name of each candidate seeking elective office, except those who have withdrawn, died, or become ineligible, must be printed on the official ballot in the form designated by the candidate in accordance with the Texas Election Code. If two or more candidates have the same surname, their residence addresses must be printed with their names on the ballot.
(b) 
The order of the names of the candidates on the ballot must be determined by lot in a public drawing to be held under the supervision of the person performing the duties of the City Secretary in accordance with the Texas Election Code.
(c) 
Procedures for voting by absentee ballot must be consistent with the Texas Election Code.
(d) 
An ordinance, bond issue, or Charter amendment to be voted on by the voters of the City must be presented for voting by ballot title. The ballot title of a measure may be different from its legal title and must be a clear, concise statement, approved by the City Council, describing the substance of the measure without argument or prejudice.
(e) 
Procedures for write-in votes must be consistent with the Texas Election Code.
(a) 
A candidate for elective office receiving a majority of the votes cast is the winner. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, there shall be a runoff election conducted in accordance with the Texas Election Code.
(b) 
The returns of every municipal election must be handled in accordance with the Texas Election Code.
(a) 
Each newly-elected person to the City Council is entitled to be inducted into office at the first regular City Council meeting following the election that the newly-elected member attends.
(b) 
At such meeting the oath must be in accordance with the City Charter.