CHAPTER 713
An Act to require certain town mayors and council members to be elected at the time of the November general election.
Approved April 16, 1998
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. Election of mayors and council members for certain towns.
A. The qualified voters of the Towns of Dayton and Mount Crawford shall each elect a mayor, if provided for by charter, and a council, which shall be the governing body thereof, for the terms provided for by their charters. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-222 or any other provision of law, general or special, any election of a mayor or council members for such a town shall take place on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of an even-numbered year, and the persons so elected shall enter upon the duties of their offices on the January 1 succeeding their elections and remain in office until their successors have qualified.
B. In such towns:
1. Any mayor or council member elected in 1994 for a four-year term, or in 1996 for a two-year term, shall hold office until his successor has qualified. His successor shall be elected on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 1998 and, notwithstanding any charter provision to the contrary, shall take office on the January 1 following his election.
2. Any mayor or council member elected in 1996 for a four-year term shall hold office until his successor has qualified. His successor shall be elected on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2000 and, notwithstanding any charter provision to the contrary, shall take office on the January 1 following his election.
C. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 24.2-503, candidates for town mayor or council subject to the provisions of this act shall file their written statements of qualification and economic interests pursuant to §§ 24.2-501 and 24.2-502 not later than 7:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday in June.
D. Any county voting precinct established pursuant to § 24.2-307 which includes residents of such a town shall be wholly contained within the boundaries of the town. No such voting precinct shall include both such a town or portion thereof and county territory located outside the boundaries of the town.
2. That an emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.
3. That the provisions of this act shall be effective only for the 1998 elections for the affected towns. Elections in the affected towns on and after January 1, 1999, notwithstanding the provisions of § 1 of this act, shall be conducted in May in accordance with general law, and the term of any mayor or council member elected in November 1998 shall expire on June 30 following the May election of his successor.