Ordinance 2020-31 Calling 11-3-2020 election for at large positions - 7-20ORDINANCE NO. 2020-31
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS, ORDERING A MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE 3rd DAY OF NOVEMBER 2020, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING FOUR AT-LARGE
COUNCILMEMBERS; DESIGNATING THE PLACES AND MANNER OF HOLDING THE ELECTION; AND PROVIDING FOR THE POSTING AND PUBLICATION OF NOTICE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS, that:
SECTION 1. The regular municipal election of the City of Huntsville, prescribed by Section 6.01 of the City Charter, shall be held between the hours of seven (7:00) o'clock a.m. and
seven (7:00) o'clock p.m. on the 3rd day of November 2020, in the City, for the purpose of electing four at-large Councilmembers.
SECTION 2. The City is hereby divided into 11 countywide election locations. The polling places for these shall be as follows:
Precinct Countywide Polling Place
102 Walker County Annex, 1301 Sam Houston Ave. Ste. 101, Huntsville, Texas 77340
103 Cooks Springs Baptist Church, 1936-A SH 75 N, Huntsville, Texas 77320
104 Northside Baptist Church, 1207 FM 980, Huntsville, Texas 77320
201 Walker County Storm Shelter/Veteran’s Complex, 455 SH 75 N, Huntsville, Texas 77340
204 Walker County Fairgrounds, 3925 SH 30 W, Huntsville, Texas 77320
205 Elkins Lake Conference Center, 634 Cherry Hills Drive, Huntsville, Texas 77340
301 Huntsville ISD Transportation Building, 95 Martin Luther King, Huntsville, Texas 77320
302 Calvary Baptist Church, 1135 U. S. Hwy 190, Huntsville, Texas 77320
304 Riverside United Methodist Church, 2341 FM 980, Huntsville, Texas 77320
401 University Heights Baptist Church, 2400 Sycamore Avenue, Huntsville, Texas 77340
404 New Waverly First Baptist Church, 460 Fisher Street, New Waverly, Texas 77358
SECTION 3. This election shall be held in accordance with, and shall be governed by, the election laws of the State of Texas. In all City elections, the Mayor, City Secretary or City
Council shall do and perform each act as in other elections required to be done and performed, respectively, by the County Judge, the County Clerk or the Commissioners' Court. The City
Council has determined, pursuant to Chapter 31 of the Texas Election Code, that the City is authorized to enter into an Election Services Agreement with Walker County, Texas, and, pursuant
to Chapter 271 of the Texas Election Code, the City is authorized to enter into a Joint Election Agreement with Walker County and other participating political subdivisions for this
election. The City Secretary and Mayor are hereby authorized to perform all duties and take all actions as required by any joint election agreement(s) and/or the contract(s) for election
services that may be authorized by City Council.
SECTION 4. Any eligible and qualified person may have his name upon the official ballot as an independent candidate by submitting an application, which, in accordance with Texas Election
Code Section 141.031, must be in writing and be signed and sworn to by the candidate and indicate the date that the candidate swears to the application. Such application for the general
election may be filed with the City Secretary beginning on July 18, 2020 and must be filed not later than 5:00 p.m. on August 17, 2020.
SECTION 5. At-Large Councilmembers for each of the City’s four seats shall be selected. The At-Large Councilmembers to be elected shall hold office for a period of two (2) years.
SECTION 6. Each of the four Councilmembers shall be citizens of the United States, qualified and registered voters of the State of Texas; residents within the present corporate limits
of Huntsville for at least twelve months immediately preceding the election; and current in payment of taxes and assessments due to the City.
SECTION 7. The order in which the names of the candidates are to be printed on the ballot shall be determined
by a drawing of the City Secretary as provided by section 52.094 of the Texas Election Code.
The form of the ballot for the election shall be as follows:
OFFICIAL BALLOT
General Election
City of Huntsville, Texas
November 3, 2020
INSTRUCTION NOTE: Vote for the candidate of your choice in each race by placing an "X" in the square beside the candidate's name.
Councilmember, At-Large Position One (Vote for one)
( (candidates' name)
( (candidates' name)
Councilmember, At-Large Position Two (Vote for one)
( (candidates' name)
( (candidates' name)
Councilmember, At-Large Position Three (Vote for one)
( (candidates' name)
( (candidates' name)
Councilmember, At-Large Position Four (Vote for one)
( (candidates' name)
( (candidates' name)
SECTION 8. Diana L. McRae, the Walker County Election Officer/Tax Assessor-Collector, is the Early Voting Clerk (EVC), and Julie Cooper, Walker County Elections Manager, is appointed
Deputy Early Voting Clerk (DEVC), for the joint early voting approved by Commissioners’ Court, as with respect to early voting in person and voting by mail, and the Walker County Annex,
1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 101, is hereby designated as the Main Early Voting Site for early voting for the election.
Applications for ballot by mail shall be mailed, faxed, or emailed to:
Diana McRae, Walker County Tax Assessor-Collector
1301 Sam Houston Avenue, Suite 114, Huntsville, Texas 77340
Phone: (936) 436-4959 Fax Number: (936) 436-4961 Email: walkervr@co.walker.tx.us
Early Voting in the election by personal appearance shall be conducted at the times, dates and polling places as provided for in the Walker County Joint Election Agreement and Election
Services Contract between the City of Huntsville, Texas and Walker County, Texas, and further adopts any additions or amendments to such concerning early voting times, dates, and polling
location as approved by the Walker County Deputy Elections Administrator.
During the lawful early voting period, such clerk shall keep such place for early voting open for early voting from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, October 19-30, 2020;
from 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 and Tuesday, October 27, 2020; and from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday, October 24, 2020 and Sunday, October 25, 2020; except
on official state holidays.
SECTION 9. The Mayor and City Secretary are hereby directed to give notice of the election by:
a) causing said notice of such election to be published at least forty (40) days prior to the date of such election in the newspaper;
b) by publishing the notice at least one time, not more than thirty (30) days nor less than ten (10) days
before the election, in the newspaper;
c) by filing with the City Secretary, for posting, a copy of said notice at least twenty-one (21) days before the election; and
d) by posting on the City Hall bulletin board notice of the election at least twenty-one (21) days before the election.
The Mayor and City Secretary shall file with the City Secretary a copy of the notice as published, together with the name of the newspaper and the dates of publication.
SECTION 10. It is further found and determined that, in accordance with the order of this governing body, the City Secretary posted written notice of the date, place and subject of
this meeting on the bulletin board located in the City Hall, a place convenient and readily accessible to the general public, and such notice having been so posted and remaining posted
continuously for at least seventy-two (72) hours preceding the scheduled time of such meeting.
SECTION 11. That the Mayor and/or the City Secretary of the City of Huntsville are hereby authorized to execute and/or issue, for an on behalf of the City, such orders, documents and
forms as may, from time to time, be promulgated by the Secretary of State of the State of Texas in conjunction with the election herein ordained.
SECTION 12. The Mayor and/or the City Secretary and the attorney for the City are hereby authorized and directed to make any filings required by the Federal Voting Rights Act. The Mayor
and/or the City Secretary and the attorney for the City are further authorized and directed to take any action necessary to comply with the provisions of the Texas Elections Code, the
Federal Voting Rights Act and the terms and provisions of any Election Services Contract(s) and the Joint Election Agreement(s) in carrying out the provisions of this Ordinance, whether
or not expressly authorized herein.
SECTION 13. This ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 21st day of JULY 2020.
THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE
Andy Brauninger, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
________________________________ ________________________________
Brenda Poe, City Secretary Leonard Schneider, City Attorney