(a) If the office of the mayor becomes vacant during a civil defense emergency period, the vacancy shall be filled as provided by Charter § 5-106.
(b) If the vacancy referred to in subsection (a) cannot be filled in conformity with Charter § 5-106, the following shall serve as standby officers for the office of mayor in the order of succession set forth hereinbelow:
(1) The chair of the city council;
(2) The vice-chair of the city council;
(3) Councilmembers-at-large in the order of the longest continuous tenure; provided that if there are two or more councilmembers with equal length of tenure, then the councilmember polling the larger number of votes in the preceding general election shall be prior in the order of succession;
(4) District councilmembers in the order of the longest continuous tenure; provided that if there are two or more district councilmembers with equal length of tenure, then the councilmember polling the larger number of votes in the preceding general election shall be prior in the order of succession; and
(5) The managing director.
(c) Pending the assumption of office by any councilmember as hereinabove provided, or where a temporary absence from the State, or temporary disability or unavailability of the mayor, the managing director shall act as mayor. If the managing director should resign or be unable to act, the director of budget and fiscal services shall then act as mayor.
(Sec. 1-8.4, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.)) (1990 Code, Ch. 1, Art. 7, § 1-7.4)