Candidate filing deadline August 17
Eastland Mayor Pro Tem, Shirley Suart announced an abbreviated City Commission meeting has been set for noon, next Wednesday, August 5 to authorize a special November 3 election to fill the vacant seat on the City Commission. Prospective candidates must file properly executed forms by August 17 to appear on the ballot.
The vacancy occurred earlier this week due to the resignation of Commission member/mayor Michael Hackney. Eastland’s city charter mandates filling Commission vacancies via a special election to be held essentially at the first opportunity following the vacancy.
Texas law specifies only two days per year when municipalities may hold elections -once in the spring and once in the fall. This year’s fall general election day will be November 3.
“Our election law requires a maddeningly detailed process filled with rigid, unforgiving requirements and deadlines. If any detail is missed by any party, there is no remedy other than waiting for the next election cycle”, said Stuart. “I find my present role a bit ironic since I spent twenty years scheduling elections as Eastland City Secretary”, she recalled.
“The Secretary of State set this fall’s election schedule long ago”, according to Roma Holley, Eastland City Secretary. “Overlaying the date the vacancy occurred on the election calendar doesn’t give us much time to react. The process requires a City Commission resolution authorizing the election and next Wednesday is as quick as they can schedule a meeting”, she said.
“I don’t expect Wednesday’s meeting to last more than five or ten minutes, but passing a formal resolution authorizing the election is a firm requirement. My biggest concern is the extremely short time frame potential candidates will have to respond. Prospective candidates can pick up an application and detailed information about requirements needed to appear on the ballot now at City Hall. Completed applications may be accepted by the City Secretary at City Hall any time after 1:00on August 5. I urge anyone thinking about running to not wait until the last minute to start the process and to pay excruciating attention to all the detailed requirements. To be eligible to run, a person must be registered to vote within the City of Eastland-no exceptions,” Stuart concluded.
