Eligibility to file. Each candidate for an
elective city office shall meet the following qualifications:
(a) Shall
be eighteen (18) years of age or older on the commencement of the
term to be filled at the election.
(b) Shall
be a registered and qualified voter of the city.
(c) Shall
have resided for at least twelve (12) months preceding the election
within the corporate limits of the city, including territory annexed
prior to the filing deadline.
(d) Shall
not be in arrears in the payment of any taxes or other liabilities
due the city. "In arrears" is defined herein to mean that payment
has not been received within ninety (90) days from due date.
(e) An
incumbent seeking reelection as a member of the council must file
for the same position number the incumbent is presently serving.
(f) No
candidate may file for more than one office or position number per
election.
(g) No
employee of the city shall continue in such position after being elected
to any elective municipal office.
(h) Each
candidate for city council who runs for a position on such council
from one of the five (5) numbered council precincts, shall, at the
time of his or her filling for office, be a bona fide resident of
the precinct from which he or she is a candidate.
(Ordinance 85-13, § 3, 4-16-85)
All official paper ballots for any general or special election
shall be printed and prepared as specified in the Texas Election Code,
as amended.
The returns of every municipal election shall be delivered from
the election judges to the city secretary at the city offices not
later than twelve (12) hours after the closing of the polls. One extra
copy shall be delivered for the mayor at this time. The council shall
canvass the returns in sufficient time to declare the official results
of the election at the next regular council meeting after the closing
of the polls. The returns of every municipal election shall be recorded
in the minutes of the council, by totals for each candidate, or for
or against each issue submitted.
All candidates are to be elected by a plurality vote; that is,
the candidate who receives the highest number of votes cast for the
office concerned is elected, even though it may be less than fifty
(50) percent of the total number of votes cast for that office. Where
only one officer is to be elected in a race, the candidate receiving
the highest vote is the winner; where two (2) are to be elected from
the same slate, the two (2) highest candidates are tie winners; where
three (3) are to be elected, the three (3) highest are the winners;
and so on.
At any election, general or special, if two (2) or more candidates
are tied for high place, where only one is to be elected, the candidates
may agree in writing upon a method for settling the tie. The mayor
shall set a deadline for the candidates to come to a decision on whether
they can resolve the tie, by agreement and upon their failure to file
such written agreement prior to the deadline, the mayor shall immediately
order another election to fill such office in accordance with the
procedures as set forth in the current edition of the Texas Election
Code, as amended.