Candidate Orientation
January 24, 2011
Goals for Tonight’s session
• Informational in nature regarding the election
process/introduction to the City of Melissa.
• Not a session designed to get into specific issues.
• City will do its best to address any questions at the
end and will follow up if necessary.
• Session is planned to last no more than one hour.
Rewards/Challenges
Rewards
• Council’s essential role is developing policies and
services that reflect the needs and values of the
community.
• Working toward a better community as a team.
• Shape future of community.
Challenges
• Required to regularly attend meetings/time away from
family (typically in evenings).
• Varying viewpoints from residents on what is best for City.
• Infinite needs with finite resources.
Municipal Government
• Form – Type A General Law City.
– Limited to authority specifically defined in State law.
• City beginning the process to present Home Rule
concept to the voters in November 2011.
• City Council elected “at large.”
• City Council focus on policy direction while
appointed City Administrator helps implement
Council policy.
Roles and Duties of City Council
• City’s legislators’ primary duty is policy making.
• Council members’ goals should be to clearly identify
community needs, formulate program to meet those
needs, and then continuously measure effectiveness of
programs.
• The City Council is the governing body for the City of
Melissa and must bear responsibility for the integrity of
governance.
• The Council shall govern the City with a commitment to
preserving the values and integrity of representative local
government and democracy.
• The Council must strive for continual improvement of
each member’s personal knowledge and ability to serve in
an atmosphere conducive to the responsible exchange of
ideas.
Roles and Duties of City Council
• The Council will keep the community informed on
municipal affairs; encourage communication between the
citizens and Council and strive for constructive
relationships with Collin County, neighboring
communities, Melissa Independent School District and
other governmental bodies.
• The Council will recognize and address the rights and
privileges of the social, cultural, and physical
characteristics of the community when setting policy.
• The Council will seek to improve the quality and image of
public service.
• The Council will commit to improving the quality of life for
the individual and the community, by being dedicated to
the faithful stewardship of the public trust.
Council Meetings
• 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month with special
meetings called as needed.
• Work shops or work sessions are designed to
facilitate policy discussion or direction as needed
by Staff.
Texas Open Meetings Act
• Requires that written notice of the date, hour, and
location of every council meeting, together with
an agenda specifically describing all of the items
to be considered, be posted 72 hours in advance
of such meeting.
• Exceptions to the 72-hour posting requirement
are only for matters deemed a case of
"emergency or urgent public necessity.”
• Executive Sessions are the only exception to
Open Meetings Act and is defined under the
OMA.
Public Information Act
• Chapter 552 of the Government Code requires
that most city records, including those in the
possession of Council Members, be open to
public inspection.
• City has ten days to release requested
information if it exists or request Attorney
General’s Office make a ruling on exception to
the request as allowed under the PIA.
Role of staff in election process
• Staff is politically neutral and will not be a party to
election matters, with the exception of
administering the election process.
• Staff is unbiased and works for the Council whom
the community elects.
• While employees can cast their vote in the
election (as long as they reside in Melissa) they
cannot campaign and are to provide only factual
data that is requested through the Public
Information Act.
Election Calendar - Summary
•
FEBRUARY 14, 2011*
•
offices are
therefore the first day
February 14, 2011.
MARCH 14, 2011
•
•
MARCH 15, 2011
MARCH 22, 2011
CONDUCT DRAWING order of names on ballot.
LAST DAY for candidate to withdraw (5:00 p.m.) from the
election and have name removed from ballot.
•
APRIL 14, 2011
•
•
•
transfer of
precinct not in the same
MAY 14, 2011
MAY 23, 2011
MAY 23, 2011
LAST DAY for submitting voter registration application in
time to vote at the election or for requesting
registration in time to vote in new
county and territory.
ELECTION DAY
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CANVASS ELECTION (REGULAR CITY COUNCIL
MEETING). (Tentative) CANVASS MUST OCCUR
BETWEEN THREE AND ELEVEN DAYS AFTER THE
ELECTION.
FIRST DAY for candidate to file application with City
Secretary for a place on the ballot. *City Hall
closed on Saturday, February 12;
to file will fall on Monday,
LAST DAY to file application with City Secretary for a
place on the ballot. (5:00 p.m.).
If you decide to file, candidate packet
will include information on
•
•
•
•
•
•
Political Advertising “What You Need to Know”
Fair Campaign Practices Act
Code of Fair Campaign Practices
Title 15 of the Texas Election Code
2011 Filing Schedule
Texas Ethics Commission Campaign Finance Guide for
Candidates and Officeholders Who File with Local Filing
Authorities
• Candidate/Officeholder Campaign Finance Report and
Instruction Guide
• Websites included for forms and other needed information
Political Signage
• City is not the political sign police—complaints should be
directed to the State Ethics commission.
• However, general guidelines are as follows (more
information in the candidate packet)
– Political signs may not be placed in the public rights of way.
– Political signs may only be placed on private property with the
consent of the property owner.
– Any political sign placed within City right-of-way will be removed
and kept at City Hall until released to owner or disposed of in
accordance with the Sign Ordinance (City will need contact
information to let candidate know sign has been picked up and
where it is being stored).
– Political signs shall not: (i) exceed 8’ from the ground to the
highest point of the sign; (ii) exceed 30 square feet in area; (iii)
contain any moving parts; or (iv) be dilapidated or cause a hazard.
Ballot Draw
• In the event of multiple candidates running for a
specific seat, a ballot draw will be conducted to
determine the order of the names on the ballot.
• The drawing is posted according to law and held in
a public place with notices given to all candidates of
the dates and times – candidate not required to
attend but notice will be given to all candidates via
email.
• Ballot Order is then submitted to Collin County
Elections for ballot design and printing.
Night of election
• At 7:00 p.m. on election night, the polls close and
votes are tabulated by Collin County Elections.
• City receives notice at same time as Collin
County posts results on their website
(http://www.co.collin.tx.us/elections/index.jsp).
• As a General Law city, Melissa is under the
plurality system, where the most votes in a given
race determines the winner (opposed to
majority—thus no runoffs in Melissa).
Swearing in
• The official swearing in cannot occur until the
County releases the official results and the City
canvasses said results (3-11 days after election).
• Between election night and swearing in, Staff and
Council will work diligently to bring new members
up to speed as quickly as possible.
Elected Officials Training
• Internal orientation with Mayor/Council and Staff
• Texas Municipal League’s (TML) Newly Elected
Officials Conference in Austin– July 15-16 &
August 5-6, 2011.
• Texas Municipal League Conference – October
• Miscellaneous Trainings to be determined
Questions