Chapter VIII · Elections and Wards

ARTICLE 1. VOTING

Sections 8-101 to 8-107 · 7 sections

8-101 Election of officers.

All City officers elected under the provisions of this article shall be elected by a vote of the qualified electors.

(R.O. 1964, 8-101; Ord. 4932-17; Ord. 4991-19)

8-102 Same; eligibility and qualifications; residency.

Each Commissioner shall be a citizen of the United States, shall be at least eighteen years of age, and shall be a qualified elector of the City. Each Commissioner shall also, at all times, from the time that he or she files to become a candidate for the office of Commissioner through the time that his or her term of office as Commissioner expires, reside within the corporate limits of the City.

(K.S.A. Supp. 25-2108; R.O. 1964, 8-102; Ord. 4888-15; Ord. 4932-17; Ord. 4991-19)

8-103 Same; candidate for office of commissioners.

Any person who meets the requirements of Section 8-102 of this Article may become a candidate for the office of City Commission by filing or by having filed in his or her behalf, with the county election officer, in accordance with K.S.A. 25-205 and K.S.A. 25-2110, and any amendments thereto:

(a)a declaration of intention to be a candidate, together with any fee required by law, or;

(b)a nomination petition signed by 50 qualified electors of the City.

(Ord. 4932-17; Ord. 4991-19)

8-104 Same; Elections.

(a)In accordance with state law, any general election for the office of Commissioner shall be conducted on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years.

(b)In accordance with state law, any primary election for the office of Commissioner shall be conducted on the first Tuesday of August in odd-numbered years.

(c)All elections for the office of Commissioner shall be non-partisan.

(Ord. 4932-17; Ord. 4991-19)

8-105 Same; Terms of Office; Oaths of Office.

(a)At each general election, held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years, the qualified electors of the City shall elect three Commissioners to the Governing Body. The two candidates who receive the most votes shall each serve a term of office of four years. These terms of office shall commence upon taking the oath of office on the second Tuesday in December immediately following the certification of the general election, and shall expire on the second Tuesday in December four years thereafter. The candidate receiving the third most votes shall serve a term of office of two years. This term of office shall commence upon taking the oath of office, on the second Tuesday in December immediately following the certification of the general election, and shall expire on the second Tuesday in December two years thereafter. Accordingly, every two years, three offices of Commissioner shall be open for election.

(b)Effective July 1, 2015, the Kansas legislature transferred all general elections, including those of the City, from April to November of odd-numbered years and all terms of office of municipal officers, including those on the City Commission, from April to the second Monday in January following the general election.

(c)To make this transition, those Commissioners, whose terms of office would have expired in April 2017, shall have their terms of office extended until Monday, January 8, 2018. Consistent with the foregoing, the terms of office which were to expire in April, 2019, shall be extended until Monday, January 13, 2020.

(d)Before commencing any terms of office or assuming any term of office on the Governing Body, each Commissioner shall first take the oath of office. The oath of office shall be administered by the City Clerk, the designee of the City Clerk, or by anyone fulfilling the duties of the City Clerk.

(Ord. 4932-17; Ord. 4991-19)

8-106 Same; Mayor.

At its regular meeting on the second Tuesday of December of each year, the Governing Body shall elect one Commissioner to serve as Chairperson. The Chairperson shall have the title of Mayor. The Mayor shall preside at all meetings of the Governing Body, shall retain the authority to vote and to take all actions accorded Commissioners, and shall execute all ordinances, agreements, and other documents requiring the signature of the Mayor. The Mayor shall have no administrative duties. The Commissioner selected as Mayor shall serve in that capacity for a period of one year, commencing on the second Tuesday of December, when he or she is elected Mayor, and expiring on the second Tuesday of December of the succeeding year.

(Ord. 4932-17; Ord. 4991-19)

8-107 Same; Vice-Mayor.

At its regular meeting on the second Tuesday of December of each year, the Governing Body shall elect one Commissioner to serve as Vice-Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall have the title of Vice-Mayor. In the absence of the Mayor from any meeting, the Vice-Mayor shall preside. If the Mayor is absent from the City, or if the Mayor is incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform the duties of Mayor, then the Vice-Mayor shall be accorded the title of Acting Mayor and shall perform and exercise the duties of Mayor. The Commissioner selected as Vice Mayor shall serve in that capacity for a period of one year, commencing on the second Tuesday of December, when he or she is elected Vice-Mayor, and expiring on the second Tuesday of December of the succeeding year.

(Ord. 4932-17; Ord. 4991-19)