(A) Election method. Pursuant to S.C. Code § 5-15-20, the Mayor shall be elected at large and Council Members shall be elected, one member from each ward of the municipality by the qualified electors of the ward. Candidates seeking office from a particular ward shall be residents of the ward during their entire term of office.
(B) Nonpartisan election procedure. All regular and special elections for Mayor and members of Council shall be conducted and results shall be determined in accordance with the nonpartisan election and runoff election method authorized by S.C. Code § 5-15-62.
(C) Election commission. All regular and special elections shall be conducted by a Municipal Election Commission composed of three electors who shall be residents of the City appointed by the City Council for terms of six years, staggered so that the terms of one member expires each even-numbered year at least 90 days prior to the regular election. The Election Commission shall have the powers and duties specified in S.C. Code § 5-15-100, and applicable provisions of S.C. Code, Title 7.
(D) Regular election date and notice.
(1) Regular elections for the offices of Mayor and members of Council shall be held in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. A runoff election, if necessary, shall be held two weeks following the election. Those members of Council whose terms expire in May, 2017, shall have their terms extended to Tuesday, January 2, 2018, when their successors shall be installed; Mayor and those members of Council whose terms expire in May, 2019, shall have their terms extended to Wednesday, January 2, 2020 when their successors shall be installed. Thereafter, terms shall be staggered ending and beginning on the first business day in January in subsequent years.
(2) In the event of a tie vote for any office, a runoff election shall be held two weeks following the election pursuant to S.C. Code § 5-15-125. Special elections to fill vacancies shall be held pursuant to S.C. Code § 7-13-190. Two public notices of a regular or special election shall be given, which shall include the location of polling places set by resolution of Council. The first notice shall be given at least 60 days prior to the election. The second notice shall be given no later than two weeks after the first notice.
(E) Filing statement of candidacy.
(1) Each person offering as a candidate for election to any city office shall do so by filing a notice of candidacy with the Election Commission by noon on the date 60 days prior to the date of the election in substantially the following form:
I hereby file notice that I am a candidate for election to the office of Mayor/Council Member for District No. in the regular/special municipal election to be held (date) . I certify that I am a qualified elector and resident of the municipality and district for which I seek election.
(2) No political affiliation shall be placed on the ballot for any candidate.
(3) Candidates must file a Statement of Economic Interest form that the Election Commission must file with the State Ethics Commission within five days after the filing period closes. Candidates failing to file this statement will not have their names printed on the ballot.
(4) Candidates must file Campaign Disclosure Forms with the State Ethics Commission within 15 days prior to each election.
(Am. Ord. passed - - ; Am. Ord. 03-02-01, passed 2-18-03)
(F) Filing fees. The filing fees for the offices of Mayor and Council shall be an amount equal to one month’s pay for the office sought at the time of filing.
(G) Time of taking office. Newly elected officers shall be qualified to take office at any meeting of Council at least 48 hours after an uncontested election. Incumbents shall remain in office until contests are finally determined and successors are qualified and take office.
(Ord. 98-03-01, passed 3-17-98 ; Am. Ord. 03-02-01, passed 2-18-03; Am. Ord. passed 1-17-17; Am. Ord. 017-06-01, passed 6-20-17)