A CHARTER ORDINANCE EXEMPTING THE CITY OF STAFFORD, KANSAS FROM THE PROVISIONS OF K.S.A. 15-201, RELATION TO THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS, THEIR TERMS OF OFFICE, TRANSITIONS TO NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, THE FILLING OF GOVERNING BODY VACANCIES, AND NOMINATION PETITONS; AND, PROVIDING SUBSTITUTE AND ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS ON THE SAME SUBJECT, AND REPEALING CHARTER ORDINANCE NO. 1.

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF STAFFORD, KANSAS:

Section 1. The City of Stafford, Kansas, by the power vested in it by Article 12. Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution hereby elects to and does exempt itself and make inapplicable to it the provisions of K.S.A. 15-201, which applies to this city, but is part of an enactment which does not apply uniformly to all cities.

Section2. The governing body shall consist of a mayor and five council members to be elected to terms as set forth herein. The mayor and council members shall be residents and qualified electors of the City of Stafford, Kansas.

Section 3. Those governing body positions with terms expiring in April of 2017, shall expire on the second Monday in January of 2018, when the city officials to the November 2017 general election take office. Those governing body positions with terms expiring in April 2019, shall expire on the second Monday in January, 2020, when the city officials elected in the November 2019 general election take office.

Section 4. General elections shall take place on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November 2017. Succeeding elections will be held every two years for all such governing body positions whose terms have expired. A mayor and two council members shall be elected at one election, and the remaining three council members shall be elected at the succeeding election. The mayor and council members shall have four year terms.

Section 5. In case of a vacancy in the council occurring by reason of resignation, death, or removal from office or from the city, the mayor, by and with the advice and consent of the remaining council members, shall appoint an elector to fill the vacancy until the next election for that office. In case any person elected as a council member neglects or refuses to quality within 30 days after election, the council member shall be deemed to have refused to accept the office and a vacancy shall exist. The mayor may, with the consent of the remaining council members, appoint a suitable elector to fill the vacancy.

Section 6. In case a vacancy in the office of mayor, the president of the council shall become the mayor until the next regular election for that office and a vacancy shall occur in the office of the council member becoming mayor.

Section 7. In accordance with K.S.A. 25-205, and amendments thereto, any person may become a candidate for city office elected at large by having had on their behalf, a nomination petition or a declaration of candidacy, accomplished by any fee required by law. The nomination petition must be signed by 10 of the qualified electors of the City of Stafford.

(11-9-2015)