City Council

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Qualifications for Election to the Council

City Charter Section 17:

  • Shall be at least eighteen years of age or older;
  • Must be a citizen of the United State of America;
  • Must be a resident of the State of Texas for twelve months as of the deadline for filing for office;
  • Must be a bona fide resident of the district in which he seeks election for twelve months as of the deadline for filing for office; and
  • Shall not have been convicted of a felony, been adjudged to be mentally incompetent by a Court, or be disqualified by reason of any provision of any other section of this Charter or Chapter 141 of the Texas Election Code.

Texas Election Code - Eligibility for Public Office Sec. 141.001.

  • Be a United States citizen;
  • Be 18 years of age or older on the first day of the term to be filled at the election;
  • Have not been determined mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be: 1) totally mentally incapacitated; or 2) partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote;
  • Have not been finally convicted of a felony from which the person has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities;
  • Have resided continuously in the state for 12 months and in the territory from which the office is elected for six months immediately preceding the date of the regular filing deadline for a candidate’s application for a place on the ballot.

Office of the Mayor

At the first regular meeting of the City Council or special meeting, following each annual election held on the second Saturday in May, the City Council shall elect, by majority vote, a mayor and mayor pro tem among their members.

The Mayor shall preside at meetings of the Council and shall be recognized as head of the city government for all ceremonial purposes and by the governor for purposes of martial law, but shall have no regular administrative duties.

The Mayor is allowed to vote upon all matters considered by the City Council but does not have veto power. The City Council also elects a Mayor Pro Tem who shall act as Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor.