Terms & Qualifications

The term of office of the mayor and all councilpersons shall be for 4 years, following their election or until their successors are elected and qualified.

A person serving as the mayor shall be limited to serving two consecutive full-terms on the Council.

A person serving as councilperson shall be limited to serving two consecutive full-terms as councilperson, after which they are eligible to seek qualification to run for an additional two consecutive terms as mayor. The maximum number of terms a councilperson moving from a city council seat to mayor may serve is a total of four consecutive terms.

The maximum number of terms a mayor can serve on the Council is two consecutive terms. An individual who has served two consecutive terms as Mayor shall not seek a consecutive term as a councilperson.

A term shall be considered a full-term if the elector has served two or more years of their four year term.

A candidate qualifying for the office of mayor or an at-large council seat must be a bona fide resident of the city for at least six months prior to qualifying, a qualified elector and be nominated by petition by ten electors of the city.

A candidate qualifying for a district council seat must be a bona fide resident of that district for at least six months prior to qualifying, a qualified elector and be nominated by petition of ten electors residing in that district.

A candidate seeking to qualify must file his/her qualification papers and pay the qualifying fees to the City Clerk, during the Qualifying period, for their name to appear on the ballot.

Newly elected officers shall be sworn in and assume the duties of office at the regular Council meeting held on the third Monday of November, unless the election results are not certified. In that event the officers will be sworn in and assume the duties of their offices at the next regular Council meeting following certification.