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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPO 7391: CONDUCT OF A GENERAL ELECTION 2026, COUNCILMEMBERS FOR DIST. 1, 2, 3, AND 4, JOINT ELECTION WITH JEFFERSON COUNTY ON MAY 2, 2026 P.O. No. 7391 01/29/26 sb ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CONDUCT OF A GENERAL ELECTION 2026 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING COUNCILMEMBERS FOR DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3 AND 4 IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS AND PROVIDING FOR A JOINT ELECTION WITH JEFFERSON COUNTY ON MAY 2, 2026 IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 271 OF THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE, AND PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE ELECTION NOTICE WHEREAS, the City of Port Arthur is a home rule city with a governing body composed of a Mayor and six (6) Councilmembers as delineated below: District/At-Large Term Expiration of Position Term Charlotte Moses Mayor 3 years May 2028 Councilmembers Willie "Bae" Lewis 1 3 years May 2026 Tiffany Hamilton Everfield 2 3 years May 2026 Doneane Beckcom 3 3 years May 2026 Harold Doucet 4 3 years May 2026 Thomas Kinlaw, III At-Large Position 5 4 years May 2027 Donald Frank, Sr. At-Large Position 6 4 years May 2027 IWHEREAS, the term for Council Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 will expire May 2026; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 3.004 and Section 41.001 of the Texas Election ICode, the City Council shall order a General Election to be held on the first Saturday in May 2026, the same being May 2, 2026, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of electing a Councilmember for Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4, said order being in substantially the same form as attached hereto as Exhibit "A"; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance No. 26-_ the City Council has authorized the execution of a Joint Election Agreement and Elections Services Contract with Jefferson County, Texas. s.po7391 Page 1 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct. Section 2. That a General Election is hereby ordered to be held on May 2, 2026, for the purpose of electing Councilmember for Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4. A copy of said Order in substantially the same form as attached hereto as Exhibit "A". Section 3. That pursuant to the provisions of the Texas Election Code and Article III, Section 7 of the City Charter of the City of Port Arthur, it is hereby ordered that the ballot for said General Election shall include a place for each expiring District position. Section 4. That the Notice of the election shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least once, not earlier than the 30th day or later than the 10th day before election day. Section 5. That pursuant to Section 67.003 of the Texas Election Code, each local canvassing authority shall convene to conduct the local canvass at the time set by the canvassing authority's presiding officer not earlier than the 3rd day or later than the 11th day after election day. The City Council of the City of Port Arthur shall meet on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, which is the 11th day following the election day (May 2, 2026), and officially canvass the returns and declare the results of said Election. In the event that a candidate does not receive the majority of votes in the General Election, a runoff election shall be held as provided in Section 2.025(a) of the Texas Election Code. s.po7391 Page 2 Section 6. That the Secretary of State has issued a proclamation designating Saturday, June 13, 2026, as the date of a runoff election resulting from the election held on May 2, 2026. Section 7. That each candidate for an office for which this election is to be held must be at least eighteen (18) years of age, a citizen and qualified voter of the State of Texas and the City of Port Arthur, shall have resided twelve (12) months in the State and twelve (12) months in the City of Port Arthur and twelve (12) months in their District from which elected immediately preceding election day. Section 8. That in accordance with Texas Election Code Sections 141.031, 143.005, and 143.007 and Section 5 of Article III of the City Charter, each candidate shall file an application with the City Secretary not later than 5 p.m., Friday, February 13, 2026 and not earlier than January 14, 2026, stating that he/she is fully qualified under the laws of the State of Texas and the Charter of said City to hold the office he/she seeks. Each application shall include a statement that the candidate is aware of the nepotism law, Chapter 573 Government Code, V.T.C.A., as required by Election Code Section 141.031. Section 9. That this General Election shall be held jointly with Jefferson County in accordance with Chapter 271 of the Texas Election Code and the County Election Official has agreed to coordinate, supervise, and handle all aspects of administering said joint election in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Election Code as outlined in the terms of the agreement adopted by Ordinance No. 26-_. Section 10. That the Mayor shall cause notice of this election to be given in s.po7391 Page 3 accordance with Section 4.003 of the Texas Election Code by publishing a copy of the Notice of Election in the official newspaper of the City of Port Arthur at least one (1) time, not earlier than the thirtieth (30th) day nor later than the tenth (10th) day before Election Day; and a copy of this Ordinance together with a copy of said Notice shall be filed in the office of the City Secretary and another copy of said notice shall be posted on the bulletin board used for posting notices of the meetings of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur at least twenty-one (21) days before the election. Section 11. That the Notice of Election shall include the location of each polling place and time as provided by the County Election Officer. Section 12. That a copy of this Ordinance shall be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this 10th day of February A.D., 2026, at a Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following vote: AYES: Mayor: Councilmembers: NOES: I CHARLOTTE M. MOSES, MAYOR s.po7391 Pace ATTEST: SHERRI BELLARD, CITY SECRETARY TRMC APPROVED AS TO FORM: ROXANN PAIS COTRONEO, CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED FO DMINISTRATION: RONALD BURTON, MANAGER, CPM s.po7391 Page 5 Exhibit"A" ORDER AND NOTICE OF A GENERAL ELECTION IN THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS Notice is hereby given that the City of Port Arthur will hold a General Election for the purpose of electing Councilmembers for Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4 in accordance with Chapter 271 of the Texas Election Code on May 2, 2026, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. I, Charlotte M. Moses, Mayor of the City of Port Arthur, Texas, as authorized by the City Council, do hereby Order and give Notice of a General Election to be held in the City of Port Arthur, Texas, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., to elect Councilmembers for Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. Said election shall be by Electronic Voting System as provided in Section 123.001 of the Election Code, Section 9.004, et seq. Local Government Code and the City Charter. Early Voting by personal appearance will be conducted beginning on Monday, April 20, 2026 and continue through Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Charlotte M. Moses, Mayor s.po7391 Page 6