The Levelland City Council is slated to order the next Uniform General Election during the January 9, regular meeting.
This year’s election will be held on May 6. The City of Levelland will have two Council positions on the ballot: District B and District D.
Any citizen considering running for office can pick up a candidate packet from the office of the City Secretary starting January 3, 2023. This packet contains all necessary forms needed to apply as a candidate, as well as information on campaign finance reporting, advertising and information on the City Charter as it relates to City Council Members.
The candidate forms supplied in the packet are also available on the Texas Secretary of State and the Texas Ethics Commission websites.
Potential candidates for the position of Council Seat B and Council Seat D will be able to submit their application for a place on the ballot starting at 8 a.m. on January 18, and until 5 p.m. on February 17.
Those applications need to be submitted to the City Secretary.
The Council seats are specific to the district that will be represented. In order to apply for a place on the ballot, potential candidates must provide proof that he or she is a registered voter in the district being represented.
In addition, only those citizens who are registered in the specific district can vote in the election.
Council Members are elected for a two-year term, so voters have an election for City Council in their district every other year.
Districts A&C elections are held in even numbered years and Districts B&D are held in odd numbered years.
For further information, contact Andréa Corley at 806894-0113.
From January 18 through February 17, candidates may turn in application for a place on the ballot for the May 6, general election.
Candidates must turn in Campaign Treasurer Appointment forms before or at the same time as the application for a spot on the ballot.
Candidates are encouraged to fill out the proper forms prior to the deadline to allow the city secretary to take care of any small errors or adjustments that are needed due to a strict 5 p.m. deadline on February 17.
Additional dates for the election process are as follows: The January semiannual Campaign Finance Report will be due January 17.
Drawing for a place on the ballot, for contested races will be held February 23, at City Hall at 3 p.m.
The 30th day before the Election Campaign Finance Report is due is April 6.
The last day to register to vote is April 6.
Early voting will begin at the Elections Office April 24.
The eighth day before the Election Campaign Finance Report is due is April 28.
Election Day is May 6, followed by the July Semiannual Campaign Finance Report being due July 14.
For this year’s election, Council Members Mary Engledow and Michael Stueart positions will be up for re-election.
City Manager Andrea Corley explained that if there are no opposing candidates for each position, that position will not have to go through the election process.
“If there is only one candidate for a position, we will call the election final for that position and they will be sworn in, in May after election day,” explained Corley.
Additional information regarding council members and the role each elected official takes on is included within the charter that the city government must adhere too.
The governing and lawmaking body for the City of Levelland shall be the “City Council of the City of Levelland” and shall consist of a mayor and four council members.
The five persons holding such positions shall constitute the city council of the City of Levelland, shall be the only elective offices of the city, and shall be elected, hold office, and compensated.
Any qualified voter who resides within the City of Levelland, who is a citizen of the United States, and who meets the eligibility requirements of the laws of Texas shall have the right to seek election to the office of council member or Mayor.
In addition, anyone seeking election to the council member positions for District A, B, C, or D must have resided within that district for six months prior to the first day on which candidates may submit application to be placed on the ballot for election.
Persons seeking election to the office of Mayor may have resided within the corporate limits of the City of Levelland for six months prior to the first day on months prior to the first day on which candidates may submit application to be placed on the ballot for election.
The boundaries of Districts A, B, C, and D shall be as they have existed since February 27, 1985. After each federal census, the city shall by resolution make adjustments in the boundaries of each District as are necessary to, ensure that each district has approximately equal population and ensure that the population of at least one district is predominantly composed of persons belonging to minority racial and ethnic groups.
The mayor shall receive a salary in an amount to be fixed by the city council, but which amount shall in no event be more than $50 per month or less than $25 per month.
Each councilman shall receive the sum five dollars for each meeting of the council attended by him, provided that no councilman shall receive a greater compensation than $25 per month.
The council holds at least one regular meeting in each month at a time fixed by it for such regular meetings and may hold as many additional meetings during the month as may be necessary for the transaction of the business of the city and its citizens.
The council may hold such special meetings as it deems necessary and appropriate. Special meetings are called by the city secretary upon request of the Mayor or Mayor Pro-Tem in the absence of the Mayor, City Manager, or a majority of the members of the council.