(a) The election of city commissioners, including the mayor, shall be as provided by this Charter, general and special law. The terms of the city commissioners and mayor shall be four (4) years; except, at the presidential election of 2012, those elected to three (3) city commission seats shall be elected for terms of six (6) years in order to institute staggered terms among members of the city commission in accordance with section 3.04 below. Each city commission seat shall be filled separately; and candidates for the city commission or office of mayor shall designate, at the time of qualifying, the office for which they will run. There shall be six (6) districts. Each commissioner shall reside in one of the districts, and shall be elected only by the qualified electors who reside in the same district as the commissioner. The district boundaries shall be set by ordinance and updated after each decennial census or as otherwise required by law.
(b) No person may appear on the ballot for election as mayor if, by the end of the current term of office, the person will have served (or, but for resignation, removal or forfeiture, would have served) in that office for twelve (12) consecutive years. No person may appear on the ballot for election as city commissioner from a particular district if, by the end of the current term of office, the person will have served (or, but for resignation, removal or forfeiture, would have served) in the office of city commissioner from that district for twelve (12) consecutive years. The limitations set forth in this paragraph shall apply only to terms of office beginning after this paragraph becomes effective by approval of the electorate.
(Ord. O-84-14, passed 2-3-84; Am. Ord. O-99-07, passed 1-6-99; Am. Ord. O-2010-17, passed 6-2-10; Am. Ord. O-2010-18, passed 6-2-10)