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<br />. .~ <br /> <br />... <br /> <br />.... <br /> <br />..' <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />ORDINANCE NO. <br /> <br />968 <br /> <br />AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING METHODS FOR CANDIDATES FOR CITY OF <br />LA PORTE ELECTIVE OFFICES TO FILE FOR OFFICE AND HAVE THEIR <br />NAMES APPEAR ON THE OFFICIAL BALLOT AT CITY GENERAL ELECTIONS; <br />MAKING FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND <br />PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Article IX, Section 85, of the Charter of the <br /> <br />City of La Porte includes, among other things, requirements <br /> <br />that applications to file for city elective offices be accom- <br /> <br />panied by the filing fees specified therein; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the United States District Court for the Southern <br /> <br />District of Texas ~ru1ed that similar requirements for payment <br /> <br />of filing fees, standing alone, are unconstitutional and invalid; <br /> <br />and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City Commission is advised that the constitu- <br /> <br />tiona1 objections to the filing fee requirements would probably <br /> <br />be obviated if a reasonable alternative to the payment of filing <br /> <br />fees were provided, and the City Commission desires to provide <br /> <br />for such an alternative; <br /> <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE <br />CITY OF LA PORTE: <br /> <br />Section 1. Candidates for full elective terms of office <br /> <br />at City of La Porte general elections may have their names <br /> <br />printed upon the official ballot, if such candidates meet all <br /> <br />legally applicable qualifications for such office, by filing <br /> <br />their sworn applications, in such form as may be required by <br /> <br />law, with the Mayor at least thirty days prior to the election <br /> <br />day and by paying filing fees for the respective offices in the <br /> <br />amounts specified in Article IX, Section 85, of the Charter of <br /> <br />the City of La Porte. Provided, however, the following alterna- <br /> <br />tive method shall be available to those candidates who desire <br /> <br />to obtain a place on the ballot without paying a filing fee: <br />1. Each such candidate shall file with his said app1ica- <br /> <br />tion, in lieu of a filing fee, a petition requesting <br />that his name be placed on the ballot bearing signatures <br />of qualified electors who are residents of the city <br /> <br />equal in number to five per cent (5%) of the total vote <br />