§ 1. Election, terms and general powers of mayor and council.

(a)

All powers of the city are vested in the city council as the governing body of the city, except as otherwise provided by law or this Charter, and the council shall provide for the exercise thereof and for the performance of all duties and obligations imposed on the city by law.

(b)

The city council shall be composed of a mayor and five (5) councilmembers. Five (5) councilmembers are elected from single-member council districts by majority vote of the qualified voters that reside within the respective numbered single-member council district, and the mayor is elected at-large by a majority vote of the qualified voters of the entire city. The mayor is elected for a term of two (2) years and each councilmember is elected for a term of four (4) years. The five single-member council districts shall be designated as districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

(c)

The general city election of the city council will be held on the first Saturday in May, or the nearest date thereto as may be required by law, in each even numbered year. At the general election to be held in 2012 and every fourth year thereafter, councilmembers for districts 2, and 4 will be elected. At the general election held in 2014 and every fourth year thereafter, councilmembers for districts 1, 3 and 5. The mayor shall be elected at each regular city general election. A candidate may file for the district within which they reside, but must file for a specific district that is on the ballot and may not be a candidate for more than one (1) office or district in any election.

(d)

The election of the mayor and councilmembers shall be conducted in compliance with the requirements of the Texas Election Code and, if not provided therein, the council shall establish the procedures and requirements for elections by ordinance. The candidate receiving a majority of the votes for an elective office shall be declared the winner. The mayor and councilmembers shall take office on the twenty-fourth (24th) day after the general election at which they are a candidate for office, or such date nearest thereto as may be required by state law. A candidate for office in a special election shall take office at the first council meeting held after the candidate receives a majority of the votes cast in such election.

(e)

If no candidate for an elective office receives a majority of the votes cast for that position in the regular or a special election, a run-off election shall be held between the two (2) candidates who receive the greatest number of votes. If more than two (2) candidates tie for the highest number of votes in a general or special election, the tied candidates shall cast lots to determine which two (2) are the run-off candidates. If two (2) or more candidates tie for the second highest number of votes in a general or special election, the tied candidates shall cast lots to determine which one is the run-off candidate. Such run-off election shall be held on the third Saturday following the general election or special election, or such date nearest thereto as may be required by state law. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast for the office in the runoff election shall be declared elected and if the run-off results in a tie vote, the tie shall be broken in a manner authorized by the Texas Election Code or by lot or chance as agreed by and between the candidates.

(f)

If any member of the council announces his or her candidacy, or in fact becomes a candidate in any election, for an elective office of profit or trust other than the one then held at a time when the member's unexpired term exceeds one (1) year, the announcement or candidacy constitutes an automatic resignation of the office then held, which thereupon becomes vacant.

(Ord. No. 2008-11, 5-27-2008/Res. No. 2008-16, 9-20-2008; Ord. No. 2011-06, § 1, 3-8-2011)