(a) Eligibility:
A candidate for elective city office shall
be a registered voter of the city who for at least twelve months prior
to the election has resided within the corporate limits of the city,
including territory annexed prior to the filing deadline.
(b) Limitations:
No candidate may file for more than one
office or council place at the same election.
(November 2, 2021, measure M)
Ballots in all city elections shall comply with the provisions of Chapter
52, Election Code.
The city council shall canvass the returns and declare the results
in accordance with state election law. The returns of every municipal
election shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting at which
the vote is canvassed by totals for each candidate or “for”
and “against” each issue submitted.
To be elected, a candidate must receive a number of votes greater
than one-half the total number of valid ballots cast for the office.
If no candidate receives a majority vote or if there is a tie vote,
the council shall call a run-off election between the two candidates
who received the greatest number of votes to be held according to
the requirements of the Election Code.
The term of a candidate who is elected shall begin when he takes
the oath of office, as required by the Texas Constitution. Unless
unforeseen circumstances prevent it, the oath of office shall be taken
within fourteen days following the date of canvassing and declaring
results or following the meeting at which the appointment was made.
Before taking the oath of office, a candidate who is elected shall
verify via signature that he or she has read this Charter or been
made aware of its provisions and promises to abide by them. The oath
shall be administered by the city secretary or other person authorized
by law to administer oaths. If a city board or commission member is
elected or appointed to city office, the member is deemed to have
resigned from the board or commission immediately upon being elected
or appointed to city office.
(November 2, 2021, measure M)