Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, all legislative powers of the City shall be vested in a Council consisting of one member nominated and elected from each ward in said City. The terms of the members of Council shall be for four years in Wards 1, 3 and 5, beginning on the first Monday in January, 1986, and for four years in Wards 2, 4 and 6, beginning on the first Monday in January, 1988. The members elected in Wards 2, 4 and 6 for the term beginning on the first Monday in January, 1986, shall serve for a term of two years. If a vacancy occurs in the Council, except as the result of a recall election, some eligible person from the ward in which the vacancy occurs, shall be chosen within thirty (30) days by a majority vote of the remaining members of Council to fill the unexpired term. If, however, the remaining members of Council fail to fill such vacancy within said thirty (30) days, said vacancy shall be filled by a committee consisting of the President of Council, or in case the office of the President of Council be vacant, the Vice-President, the City Auditor and the City Solicitor, who shall certify their selection to the City Clerk.
Each member of Council elected, or appointed, from a ward shall have resided in said ward not less than six (6) months, and each member of Council elected from a ward shall have been for at least three (3) years immediately preceding his election and during the term of his office shall continue to be, a resident of the City of Portsmouth, Ohio. Any member of Council elected from a ward shall forfeit his office if he removes from said ward, and then Council shall at once fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. Each member of Council, either elected or appointed shall have the qualifications of an elector of the City. Except where authorized by law, no Council Member shall hold any other elected public office, or any other City office or City employment, during the term for which elected or appointed to Council. The Council may redivide the City into wards upon the basis of its population in the manner provided by general law, provided that such redivision shall not abridge the term of any member of Council elected or appointed thereto, nor shall any person be chosen a member of Council in divided or newly created wards except he be nominated and elected as provided herein.
(Amended 11-5-85; 5-7-02; 5-2-11)