Broken Arrow City Council
Meeting of: 11-19-2024
Title:
title
Consideration, discussion, and possible direction regarding City Council filling the vacancy in the office of the councilmember for Ward No. 3 for the Broken Arrow City Council, including potentially appointing by a majority vote of the remaining members of council a person to fill the vacancy until the next general municipal election
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Background:
Vice-Mayor Gillespie resigned as the representative for Ward No. 3 of the City of Broken Arrow effective 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 by personally delivering a written resignation to the City Clerk during regular office hours. The current Ward No. 3 term ends at 12:00 noon on April 19, 2027 (the second Monday following the general municipal election on April 6, 2027.) See 11 O.S. Section 8-102, 8-104.
State statute provides that the remaining governing body members of Council shall appoint within 60 days from the Vice Mayor’s resignation (Friday, January 10, 2025) a person to fill the Ward No. 3 vacancy. The appointed person must meet the same qualifications required for filing a declaration for candidacy for that office, including being a registered voter and resident of Ward No. 3 for at least six (6) months prior to appointment. Council has until Friday, January 10, 2025 (sixty days from the effective date of Vice-Mayor Gillespie’s resignation) to appoint a Ward No. 3 representative. The appointed representative would then serve until Tuesday, April 1, 2025, the date of the City’s next general election. On Tuesday, April 1, 2025 the electors for the City of Broken Arrow will then vote for a person to complete the balance of the Ward No. 3 unexpired term which ends on April 19, 2027.
If Council fails to fill the vacant Ward No. 3 Council seat by January 10, 2025, the Ward No. 3 representative will be elected at the next general municipal election held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. The elected representative will serve the remaining term for the Ward No. 3 seat that ends on April 19, 2027.
Staff is requesting Council’s direction on how it would like to proceed to fill the vacancy for the Ward No. 3 Council seat.
Cost: $0
Funding Source: None
Requested By: City Manager’s Office
Approved By: Trevor Dennis, City Attorney
Attachments: 11 O.S. Section 8-109
Vice-Mayor Gillespie’s November 11, 2024 Letter
Recommendation:
recommend
As Council Directs
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