Amendment to make some offices non-partisan

Commissioner Merrival has proposed to eliminate the words in ((red)) and between double parenthese as well as to add the words in bold and italics. The impact is to make all county level offices except County Council, Executive and Prosecuting Attorney non-partisan.


ARTICLE 4 - ELECTIONS

Section 4.10 - Election Procedures
The nominating primaries and elections of the Council members, Executive, ((Assessor-Treasurer,)) and Prosecuting Attorney, shall be conducted in accordance with general law governing the election of partisan county officers. All other nominating primaries and elections for county officers shall be conducted in accordance with general law governing the election of non-partisan county officers.

Section 4.70 - Vacancies
(1) An elective office shall become vacant when one of the following occurs:
(a) death;
(b) total permanent incapacity as determined by a panel of three physicians;
(c) resignation;
(d) recall of the officer;
(e) a council members absence from three (3) consecutive regular meetings of the
Council, without being excused by the Council;
(f) absence from the county for thirty (30) days without being excused by the Council;
or
(g) failure to maintain residence within the district from which elected.

(2)The Council shall fill a vacancy in a partisan office from a list of three people submitted by the County central committee of the party represented by the official in office immediately prior to the declaration of vacancy. In the event that this official was elected as an independent, the vacancy shall be filed by the Council with an individual who certifies to be of the same affiliation. The Council shall fill a vacancy in a non-partisan office from a list of three people submitted by the Executive.

(3)Vacancies in an elective position shall be filed at the next November general election, unless the vacancy occurs after the last day for filing declarations of candidacy, in which case the vacancy shall be filed at the next succeeding November general election. The person elected shall take office upon certification of the results of the election, and shall serve the unexpired term of the vacated office. Until a successor has been elected and certified, a majority of the Council shall fill the vacancy by appointment. All persons appointed to fill vacancies shall meet the qualifications set in Section 4.30.