General Information

The City Recorder serves as the City's elections officer by issuing measures to voters, taking applications for the position of Mayor and Council and administering the oath of office to elected officials and police officers. 

Regular City elections are held at the same times and places as biennial general state elections and in accordance with applicable state elections laws. The Council may provide for special elections in accordance with such laws.  Legal notices are published stating the officers to be elected, the ballot title of each measure to be voted upon, and the time and place of the election. 

Candidates for City Elective Offices

To be eligible for city elective office, a candidate must be a registered voter and must have resided in the city during the six months immediately preceding the election. City Council candidates must also be residents of their ward. The Mayor is elected from the city at large. 

At each biennial election, four councilmembers, one from each ward, are elected to serve four-year terms. In this manner, councilmembers from each ward serve overlapping terms. Beginning with the biennial general election, in the year 2000 the Mayor will be elected to a four-year term.