§ 14-43-312 - Aldermen in mayor-council cities of fewer than 50,000. - Arkansas Statutes

14-43-312. Aldermen in mayor-council cities of fewer than 50,000.

(a) (1) On the Tuesday following the first Monday in November 1966 and every two (2) years thereafter, the qualified voters of all cities of the first class having the mayor-council form of government with fewer than fifty thousand (50,000) inhabitants shall elect two (2) aldermen from each ward for a term of two (2) years, except that by ordinance any city of the first class may refer the question to voters to elect two (2) aldermen from each ward to four-year terms as more particularly set out in subdivision (a)(2)(A) of this section.

(2) (A) On or before February 1 of the election year when the procedure will go into effect, any city of the first class, by ordinance referred to and approved by the voters at the previous general election or at a special election called for that purpose, may elect two (2) aldermen from each ward to four-year terms, except for the initial terms as provided in subdivision (a)(2)(B) of this section.

(B) (i) If this procedure is adopted by ordinance referred to and approved by the voters of the city, the alderman representing position number one from each ward will be elected to a four-year term at the next general election.

(ii) The alderman representing position number two from each ward will be elected to an initial two-year term at the next election, and thereafter will be elected to four-year terms, resulting in staggered terms with one (1) alderman being elected to a four-year term from each ward every two (2) years.

(b) (1) The county board of election commissioners shall designate the aldermen as alderman number one and alderman number two.

(2) (A) A candidate for the office of alderman shall designate the number of the alderman's office which the candidate is seeking at the time he or she files as a candidate for the office.

(B) When this designation has been made, the candidate shall not be permitted thereafter to change the designation.

(c) (1) (A) The city council may refer an ordinance to voters on the question of returning a city to electing aldermen to two-year terms.

(B) The ordinance must be passed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the city council before it is referred to and approved by voters at a general election.

(2) If the voters approve returning the city to electing aldermen to two-year terms, all aldermen shall be elected to two-year terms at the next general election and thereafter, except that those aldermen serving four-year terms shall complete their terms.

(3) The city council may not refer another question to voters on electing aldermen to four-year terms or on returning the city to electing aldermen to two-year terms unless at least four (4) years have passed since the last election on changing the terms of aldermen.