(A) Election of city officers is governed by general election laws as provided in KRS Chapters 116 through 121 unless City Council otherwise prescribes by ordinance that election of city officers shall be under nonpartisan city election laws as provided in KRS Chapter 83A. Such ordinance shall become effective not later than 23 days prior to the date prescribed by the election law generally for filing notification and declaration forms with the County Clerk in a year in which a regular election is to be held in which any city office is to be filled. Immediately subsequent to publication of any ordinance prescribing that election of city officers be under nonpartisan city election laws, a copy of the ordinance shall be filed with the County Clerk of the county in which the city is located.
(B) The city may change the manner of election of city officers within the provisions of division (A) above by ordinance, except that no change shall be made earlier than five years from the last change.
(C) The city shall pay the costs of city elections only if city elections are held at a time other than prescribed by law for elections generally.
(D) Each appointed and elected city office existing on July 15, 1980, shall continue until abolished by ordinance, except that the offices of Mayor and City Council members may not be abolished.
(E) No abolition of any elected office shall take effect until expiration of the term of the current holder of the office.
(F) No ordinance abolishing any elected office shall be enacted later than 240 days preceding the regular election for that office, except in the event of a vacancy in the office.
(G) The city may not create any elected office. Existing elected offices may be continued under provision of divisions (D), (E), and (F) above, but no existing elected office may be changed.
(Prior Code, § 31.20)
Editor’s note:
Ord. 2004-01, passed 3-1-2004, ordained that the form of election of the Mayor and the legislative body of the city shall be henceforth non-partisan and will forgo conducting a primary election as provided for in KRS 83A.170 and 83A.045.
Statutory reference:
Election of city officers, see KRS 83A.050
Creation, abolishment of city offices, see KRS 83A.080(4), (5)