This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding the candidacy of city or town council members for mayoral positions. Under the existing law, an incumbent of a salaried elective office is prohibited from offering their candidacy for any other salaried local, state, or federal office, except during the final year of their term. The bill introduces an exemption for council members who wish to run for mayor of the same city or town, allowing them to do so without resigning from their current position. Specifically, it clarifies that a council member is not required to resign if their term does not coincide with that of the mayor and may lawfully offer their candidacy for mayor without first resigning.

Additionally, the bill makes several technical changes to the language of the statute, including replacing gender-specific terms with gender-neutral language and restructuring certain phrases for clarity. It also reaffirms that violations of this section will still be considered misfeasance in office, resulting in the office being declared vacant. Overall, the bill aims to facilitate the political aspirations of council members while maintaining accountability for their actions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 38-296