The regular City Election shall be held annually on the second Saturday in May or at such other time as may be required by statute, at which time persons shall be elected to fill those positions which become vacant that year. The City Council shall fix the places for holding such election. The City Council may, by resolution, order a special election, fix the date and place for holding same, and provide all means for holding such special election.
All elections shall be held in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas regulating the holding of municipal elections and in accordance with the ordinances adopted by the City Council for the conduct of elections provided that the City Council shall appoint the election judges and other election officials. Voting precincts shall be established by ordinance and may be altered from time to time in like manner.
Any qualified person who desires to become a candidate for election to a place on the City Council shall file with the City Secretary not later than 5:00 P.M. of the 45th day before the Election Day an application for a place on the ballot. Such application shall designate the place on the Council to which the candidate seeks election and shall contain all the information required by Section 141.031 of the Texas Election Code and amendments thereof. Those members of the City Council who have more than 12 months remaining on their term may file to run for the office of Mayor on the City Council without resigning the seat presently held. Any vacancy created shall be filled according to Section 3.06 of this City Charter.
A declaration of write-in candidacy may be filed with the City Secretary not later than 5:00 P.M. on the 30th day before the municipal election day. The declaration must contain all the information required for an application for a place on the ballot. A write-in vote may not be counted unless the name written in is the name of a candidate who has timely filed a declaration of write-in candidacy. The City Secretary shall prepare a list containing the name of each write-in candidate who has filed a declaration of write-in candidacy. Copies of the list shall be distributed to each presiding judge with the other election supplies. A copy of the list shall be posted in each polling place.
The names of all candidates for office, except such as may have withdrawn, died, or become ineligible, shall be printed on the official ballots without party designation. The order on the ballot of the names of the candidates for each respective council place shall be determined by lot in a drawing to be held under the supervision of the City Secretary, at which drawing each candidate or his named representative shall have a right to be present. The candidate shall be notified of the time and place for drawing for the candidate order on the ballot as provided by the Texas Election Code.
At any regular or special municipal election the candidates in each place on the ballot who shall have received the greatest number of votes cast in such election for such place shall be declared elected.
All City elections shall be governed by the Constitution of the State of Texas, general laws of the State, this Charter, and ordinances of the City, in the order named.
The returns of every municipal election shall be delivered by the election judges to the City Secretary not later than 12 hours after the closing of the polls. Returns of the elections, general and special, shall be presented to the City Council on the first Wednesday next following said election at which time the Council shall canvass and declare the results of such election.
Before entering upon the duties of their respective office, the Mayor and Council Members shall take and subscribe to a statement of elected officer and oath of office as required by the Constitution and the General laws of the State of Texas.
Any member of the City Council having a conflict of interest, pursuant to any State Laws or City Ordinances regulating conflicts of interest of municipal officers, with an agenda item then before the Council, shall openly declare same before discussion proceeds, and is thereby prohibited from participating in the discussion of the item or voting on the item.
The City Council shall have a Code of Ethics, pursuant to all Federal Laws, State Laws and Local Laws, governing the City Council which shall include, but not limited to, the following: wrongful influence, wrongful interference, employees’ political activities, penalties, conflict of interest, acceptance of gifts, conduct of members, and confidential information.