O-2021-3814 calling a special election for proposed amendments to the La Porte Home Rule Charter, May 1, 2021

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term of office. A district councilperson shall also be a resident of his or her district for twelve (12) months immediately preceding election day and continuously during his or her term of office. In addition thereto, each candidate for public office must be a qualified voter of the city, must file a sworn application with the city secretary in accordance with state law, and file for only one city office. AMENDMENT F. Amending Article II, Section 2.02 – Qualifications. b. Council to be judge of members' qualifications b. Council to be judge of members' qualifications. City council shall be the judge of the election and qualifications of its members and for such purpose shall have power to subpoena witnesses and require the production of records, but the decision of council in any such case shall be subject to review bythe courts. If a member of the Council is charged with any grounds for forfeiture and/or removal of office under this Charter, a hearing shall be set not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days from the date on which the written charges are presented at a meeting of the city council. A written charge must be sworn, and is eligible to be filed only by three (3) members of the city council. At such hearing, the accused shall have the right to present evidence in his or her defense, but he or she shall be disqualified from voting as to his or her innocence or guilt. At the conclusion of the evidence, a vote shall be taken, and upon an affirmative vote of five (5) or more members of the city council, the accused member shall be removed from office and his or her seat declared vacant. AMENDMENT G. Amending Article II, Section 2.03. Conduct of elections. 2.03. - Conduct of elections. a. Regulations.All city elections shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas. In the event there should be any failure of the general laws or this Charter to provide for some feature of the city elections, city council shall have the power to provide for such deficiency, making all regulations it considers desirable, not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Texas, for the prevention of fraud in such elections and for the recount of ballots in case of doubt or fraud. Municipal elections shall be conducted by the appointed election authorities, who shall also have power to make such regulations not inconsistent with this Charter, with any regulations made by council or the laws of the State of Texas. No informalities in conducting a city election shall invalidate the same, if it be conducted fairly and in substantial compliance with the general laws, where applicable, and the Charter and ordinances of the city. b. Official ballots. Official ballots shall be prepared in accordance with state law. c. Canvassing elections. Election returns shall be canvassed in accordance with state law. d. Schedule. 1. Regular election. The regular election for choice of members of council shall be held annually on a uniform election date as determined by state law and as ordered by city council.