(a) A vacancy occurring in the Office of the County Executive prior to the expiration of the term shall be filled as provided in this section.
(b) If a vacancy occurs during the first 12 months of a term, a new County Executive shall be nominated and elected by the qualified voters of the County at the same time as Members of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States are nominated and elected and in the manner provided by law. In the interim until a new County Executive is elected, the vacancy shall be temporarily filled by resolution by a majority vote of the Members of the County Council, within 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
(c) If a vacancy occurs after the first 12 months of a term, the vacancy shall be permanently filled by resolution by a majority vote of the Members of the County Council, within 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
(d) A new County Executive appointed by the County Council either temporarily or permanently shall possess the same qualifications for office as provided in Section 401 of this Charter.
(e) If the former County Executive whose position is being filled was a member of a political party, the new County Executive, either temporarily or permanently, shall be registered in the same political party as the former County Executive for the 12-month period immediately prior to their election by the County Council.
(f) The County Council shall hold public interviews of candidates to fill the vacancy, whether temporary or permanent, and the Council shall elect the new County Executive from among those persons interviewed.
(g) The new County Executive elected permanently by the County Council or by the voters shall serve the unexpired term of the former County Executive and until a successor is duly elected and qualified.
(Res. No. 40-02; Res. No. 30-22)