SECTION 71. DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY.

   (a)    Each person desiring to become a candidate for nomination to be voted upon at a primary election shall, not later than 4:00 p. m. of the 90th day before the day of such primary election, file with the Board of Elections of Franklin County, Ohio, a declaration of candidacy and a petition requiring signatures of registered electors as follows: Not less than fifteen (15) for Ward Council Members and not less than thirty (30) for Council-at-Large Members and the Offices of President of Council, Mayor, City Attorney, City Auditor and City Treasurer.

   (b)    Such petitions may contain the names and addresses of five (5) registered electors of the City of Whitehall designated in advance by the candidate as nominating committee, which committee may fill vacancies caused by the death or withdrawal of the candidate as set forth in this section of the Charter.

   (c)    If a person nominated by petition, in accordance with this section of the Charter, for the Office of Mayor, City Attorney, Auditor, Treasurer, President of Council or Member of Council, and who faces a nonpartisan primary contest for nomination by the electorate, should die or withdraw due to illness or loss of elector status not less than thirty-five (35) days before the day of such primary election, the vacancy so created may be filled only by the nominating committee of five (5) persons designated in the nominating petition of such affected candidate.

   (d)    If a person is either nominated in the primary election as a candidate for one of the offices named in subsection (c) of this section for next subsequent general election, or certified as a candidate for the next subsequent general election in accordance with Section 72 of this Charter, and such candidate dies or withdraws due to illness or loss of elector status not less than thirty-five (35) days before such general election, the vacancy so created may be filled only by the nominating committee of five (5) persons designated by the nominating petitions filed prior to the primary election by the affected candidate.

   (e)    To fill the vacancy created by the death or withdrawal of a candidate for any of the offices named in subsection (c) of this section, the members of the nominating committee designated by the nominating petition of the affected candidate, or a majority of such committee, shall file with the Franklin County Board of Elections, not less than thirty (30) days before either the primary election or the general election, a sworn, notarized statement signed by a minimum of three (3) members of such committee, and designating the person they select to fill such vacancy. Such statement must be accompanied by the written acceptance by the person so certified as their candidate choice. (Amended 11-3-81)