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WARD: Citywide
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Approval to hold Election Qualifying in the Human Resources Conference Room at Smyrna, 2800 King Street, Smyrna GA on (3) specific days: Tuesday, August 20th, Wednesday, August 21st and Thursday, August 22, 2019, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, closed for lunch from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM each day.
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ISSUE: The Municipal Qualifying period this year determined by O.C.G.A. 21-2-132 between Monday, August 19th - Friday, September 4th. Within that week, a municipality must designate no less than three consecutive days in which to conduct qualifying. The hours each day are 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM with a one hour lunch break. The Mayor and Wards 1 - 7 will qualify for the general election to be held Tuesday November 5, 2019 during these days. Qualifying will be held in the Human Resources Training Room on Tuesday, August 20th, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Wednesday, August 21st 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM and Thursday, August 22, 2019 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, each day they will close for lunch from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM.
BACKGROUND: The corporate powers of the City of Smyrna shall be vested in a mayor and seven (7) councilmembers. One (1) councilmember shall be elected from each of seven (7) wards provided for hereinafter and shall be elected only by the voters of the ward from which a candidate offers for election, and a councilmember must remain a resident of the ward from which elected during the term of office. The Mayor and Councilmembers shall be elected by a majority of the voters voting within each respective ward. The Mayor may reside anywhere within the corporate boundaries of the city and shall be elected by a majority of the voters voting from the city at large.
Qualifications for a candidate: A person must be at least 21 years of age and must meet the requirements of a qualified voter of the City of Smyrna, as prescribed by State Law, and must have been a resident of the City of Smyrna for at least one year prior to the date he/she offers as a candidate, and, if elected, must continue to reside in Smyrna throughout his/her term of office. The candidate shall not have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.
Council member positions are designated by Ward numbers 1 through 7. All candidates qualifying to run shall state the position to which they seek election. A candidate for council shall be a resident of the ward from which the candidate offers for election at the time of qualifying, and a council member must remain a resident of the ward from which elected during a term of office.
Qualifying fees were set at the January 7, 2019 and published and advertised by February 1, 2019. The qualifying fees for Mayor were set at $756.00 and for Council members wards 1 - 7 $567.00
RECOMMENDATION/REQUESTED ACTION: Approve the three (3) consecutive days, Tuesday, August 20, 2019, Wednesday, August 21, 2019 and Thursday, August 22, 2019, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, closed for lunch from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM each day.