The regular election of members of the council shall be held
as designated by state law. In every such election each qualified
voter shall vote for not more than one candidate for each council
place to be filled. Said election shall be ordered by the council
or, in case of its failure to order the same, the mayor of the city
shall make such order. In the case of the failure of the council or
the mayor to act, the election may be ordered by the city secretary
and, in case of his/her failure to act, by the county judge of Angelina
County, Texas, and in case of his/her failure to act, by the governor
of the State of Texas. The city secretary shall give notice of such
election by causing said notice to be published at least forty-five
(45) days previous to the day of such election in the official newspaper
of the city.
(Amended at election of 5/7/94)
All elections shall be held in accordance with the laws of the
State of Texas. The council shall adopt an ordinance regulating the
holding of municipal elections and such ordinance shall provide for
sufficient polling places to enable voters to expeditiously cast their
ballots and shall provide for the installation of adequate equipment
to guarantee a secret ballot. The council shall appoint the election
judges and other election officials and shall provide for their compensation
and for all other expenses of holding such elections.
(Amended at election of 5/7/94)
Any qualified person who desires to become a candidate for election
to the council shall file with the city secretary, at least thirty
(30) days prior to the election day, an application for his/her name
to appear on the ballot. Such application shall clearly designate
the position on the council to which the candidate seeks election
and shall contain a sworn statement by the candidate that he/she is
fully qualified under the laws of Texas and the provisions of this
Charter to hold the office he/she seeks.
(Amended at election of 5/7/94)
The returns of every municipal election shall be delivered forthwith
by the election judges to the city secretary. The council shall canvass
the returns, certify the qualifications of the candidates and declare
the official results of the election as specified by state law. The
qualified person receiving a majority of the qualified votes polled
at such election shall thereupon be declared by the council to have
been elected. In the event any candidate fails to receive a majority
of the qualified votes polled at such regular election for the office
for which he/she is a candidate, the council shall immediately order
a special election to be held not less than ten days nor more than
twenty days after the results of the regular election shall have been
declared. At such special election the names of the two candidates
receiving the highest number of votes cast at the regular election
for the office for which they are candidates shall be submitted for
the election and the candidate receiving the majority of votes at
such special election for the position for which he/she was a candidate
shall be declared by the council to have been duly elected.
(Amended at election of 5/7/94)
It shall be the duty of the city secretary to promptly notify
all persons elected or appointed to office of their election or appointment.
Any officer elected or appointed must qualify by taking and subscribing
his/her oath of office within thirty (30) days or up to ninety (90)
days in case of medical emergency; otherwise the office shall be vacant.
(Amended at election of 5/7/94)
