21 - UNOPPOSED CANDIDATESItem No. 21
memorandum
TO: Mayor & Council
John Godwin, City Manager
FROM: Janice Ellis, City Clerk
SUBJECT: UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES
DATE: March 2, 2016
BACKGROUND: In order to cancel the general election in a district, the candidate must be
unopposed. The candidates in Districts 1, 2, and 3 are unopposed and the deadline has passed to
make application to run for City Council.
STATUS OF ISSUE: Chapter 2 of the Texas Election Law governs the election of unopposed
candidates for political subdivisions. Under Section 2.052 of the Election Code, I am issuing a
certification of unopposed status for Districts 1, 2, and 3.
BUDGET: NA.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve an Ordinance declaring the unopposed candidates in Council
Districts 1, 2, and 3 elected to office pursuant to Election Code Section 2.053.
Certification of Unopposed Candidates
STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF LAMAR
CITY OF PARIS
I, Janice Ellis, hereby certify that I am the duly appointed, qualified and acting City Clerk
of the City of Paris, Texas. I am responsible for having the official ballots prepared for the City
of Paris General Election to be held on May 7, 2016, for the purpose of electing Council
Members from District 1, 2, 3 and 6.
I further certify that in accordance with the Texas Election Laws, Chapter 2, Subchapter
C — Election of Unopposed Candidate, Section 2.051 and Section 2.052 Certification of
Unopposed Status, that Aaron Jenkins, Council Member for District 1, Billie "Sue" Lancaster for
District 2, and Billy Trenado for District 3 are unopposed with no write -in candidates being
declared, which allows for the cancellation of the election in District Numbers 1, 2, and 3, by
ordinance of the City Council.
In witness hereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said office
this the 2nd day of March, 20.16.
anice Ellis, City Clerk
City of Paris, Texas
9197.1wh
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, DECLARING
UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS 1, 2 AND 3 FOR
THE MAY 7, 2016, GENERAL ELECTION BE ELECTED TO OFFICE;
DETERMINING THAT NO GENERAL ELECTION BE HELD IN DISTRICTS 1,
2 AND 3; DIRECTING THAT A COPY OF THIS ORDINANCE BE POSTED AT
APPROPRIATE POLLING PLACES; DIRECTING THAT A CERTIFICATE OF
ELECTION BE ISSUED TO THE UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES; MAKING
OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT;
PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS
CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Paris did heretofore, on the 25th day of
January, 2016, in Resolution No. 2016 -004, order the regular municipal election for the City
of Paris to he held on the 7th day of May 2016, by the qualified voters in Districts 1, 2, 3,
and 6 of the City of Paris; and,
WHEREAS, the City Clerk, Janice Ellis, being the authority responsible for having the
official ballot prepared, has certified, in writing, that the candidates for Districts 1, 2, and 3
are unopposed for election to office with no write -in candidates being declared on the
ballot; and,
WHEREAS, under the authority granted in V.T.C.A., Election Code, Section 2.053, it is
deemed appropriate that the candidates for Districts 1, 2, and 3 be declared elected to
office and that no general election be held in those Districts;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby
in all things approved.
Section 2. That, for the May 7, 2016 general election, the candidate for District 1,
Aaron Jenkins; the candidate for District 2, Billie "Sue" Lancaster and the candidate for
District 3, Billy Trenado, having been certified by the City Clerk as being unopposed for
election to office with no write -in candidates being declared, be, and are hereby, declared
elected to office, which terms shall begin on May 7, 2016.
Section 3. That, in accordance with V.T.C.A., Election Code, Section 2.053, it is
hereby determined that no elections be held in Districts 1, 2, and 3.
Section 4. That the City Clerk be, and she is hereby, directed to post a copy of this
Ordinance on Election Day at the polling places that would have been used in the general
election.
Section 5. That a certificate of election shall be issued to the candidates in the
same manner as provided for a candidate elected at the election.
Section 6. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions
of the ordinances of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance
shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 7. That the repeal of any ordinance or part of ordinances affected by the
enactment of this ordinance shall not be construed as abandoning any action now pending
under or by virtue of such ordinance or as discontinuing, abating, modifying, or altering
any penalty accruing or to accrue, or as affecting any rights of the municipality under any
section or provisions of any ordinance at the time of passage of this ordinance.
Section 8. That it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Paris that this
ordinance, and every provision hereof, shall be considered severable, and the invalidity or
partial invalidity of any section, clause, or provisions of this ordinance shall not affect the
validity of any other portion of this ordinance.
Section 9. That this ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage of
the first reading and publication as required by law.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 14th day of March 2016.
A.J. Hashmi, M.D., Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, Interim City Attorney