Item 4DItem 4D
M E M O R A N D U M
February 27, 2024
To: Alison Ortowski, City Manager
From: Amy Shelley, City Secretary
Subject: Resolution No. 24-009, cancelling the May 4, 2024, General and
Special Elections
Action
Requested: Approve Resolution No. 24-009, cancelling the May 4, 2024,
General and Special Elections.
Background
Information: On January 16, 2024, the City Council approved Resolution No. 24-
001, ordering the May 4, 2024, General Election to determine the
positions of Mayor and City Council Place 2, and Special Election
to fill a vacancy for City Council Place 3.
The filing period for the 2024 General Election began January 17,
2024, and ended February 16, 2024. The City Secretary received
one application each for Mayor and Council Places 2 and 3. These
actions result in an uncontested election. The Election Code
provides for the authority of the Governing Body to cancel an
election if the candidates in each race are unopposed.
As the authority responsible for having the official ballot prepared,
the City Secretary shall certify in writing that the candidates are
unopposed for the elections scheduled to be held on May 4, 2024.
The certification shall be delivered to the Governing Body as soon
as possible after the filing deadlines occur.
Upon receipt of the City Secretary’s certification, the Council may
declare each unopposed candidate elected to office and may
cancel the election. Resolution No. 24-009 is the official order
cancelling the May 4, 2024, General and Special Elections. A copy
of this resolution shall be posted on Election Day at the polling
location.
Council’s action on this agenda item will officially cancel the May 4,
2024, General and Special Elections.
Financial
Considerations: Funds for elections are included in the City Secretary’s Office budget.
Strategic Link: Strategic Focus Areas: Partnerships & Volunteerism and
Performance Management & Service Delivery
Citizen Input/
Board Review: None
Legal Review: Resolution was provided to legal counsel for review.
Alternatives: None
Supporting
Documents: Resolution No. 24-009
Staff
Recommendation: Approve Resolution No. 24-009
RESOLUTION NO. 24-009
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE,
TEXAS, CANCELLING THE MAY 4, 2024, GENERAL AND SPECIAL
ELECTIONS AND DECLARING EACH UNOPPOSED CANDIDATE ELECTED
TO OFFICE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake, Texas (“City”) is a home rule city acting under
its Charter adopted by the electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section
5 of the Texas Constitution and Chapter 9 of the Local Government
Code; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Southlake Charter provides that City Elections shall be
held in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas; and,
WHEREAS, Section 41.001(a) of the Texas Election code, as amended by the
84th Texas Legislature, establishes the first Saturday in May as a
Uniform Election date for the purposes of conducting a General
Election; and,
WHEREAS, Section 3.004(b) of the Texas Election Code provides that the
governing body of a municipality shall be the authority to order a
General Election for the purposes of electing members to the
governing body; and,
WHEREAS, the Council approved Resolution No. 24-001, calling the General
and Special Elections of May 4, 2024, for the purpose of electing
Mayor and City Council Place 2 and Place 3; and,
WHEREAS, the filing deadlines for placement on the ballot and declaration of
write-in candidacy have passed; and,
WHEREAS, the City Secretary has certified in writing to the Governing Body
that each candidate on the ballot is unopposed for election to office;
and,
WHEREAS, in these circumstances Subchapter C of Chapter 2 of the Election
Code authorizes a governing body to declare each unopposed
candidate elected to office and to cancel the election.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The following candidates, who are unopposed in the May 4, 2024
General and Special Elections, are hereby elected to office, and
shall be issued Certificates of Election following the time the
election would have been canvassed:
Office Candidate Term
Mayor Shawn McCaskill 2027
City Council, Place 2 Randy Robbins 2027
City Council, Place 3 Frances Scharli Fill vacancy: 2025
Section 2. The May 4, 2024, General and Special Elections are cancelled, and
the City Secretary is directed to post a copy of this order on May 4,
2024, at each polling place that would have been used in the
election.
Section 3. This resolution shall be effective upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 5th day of March 2024.
CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS
____________________________
John Huffman
Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Amy Shelley, TRMC
City Secretary