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Nominations for Open Council Seat (11/07/2023)

Posted on: November 7, 2023 - 1:25pm
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Nominations for Open Council Seat with Form - 11/7/2023

Please use the following link to the form for nomination: Application for Town Council.

The next is the process that will be used to nominate and vote for a new council person for the open seat vacated by Mayor Pro Tem Connie Schoenrade. 

Please send the nomination forms to Eileen Kennedy at eileen.kennedy@doubleoak.texas.gov, and Eileen will send them to all the Town Council members for their review and possible nominations.

Nomination forms must be sent to Eileen by Noon on Thursday, November 9th.

ENTRIES RECEIVED AFTER NOON ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR NOMINATION

Nominations

  • Robert’s Rules allow the nomination process to happen in several different ways (by a nominating committee, by ballot, by mail, by petition). Still, the most common method is nominations from the council.
  • Any councilmember can nominate anyone (we assume that the councilmember knows that the nominee is eligible and willing to serve).
  • The presiding officer does not need to recognize a councilmember before they make a nomination, and there is no need to go around the table to ask each councilmember for a nomination; ask the council for nominations. Once a nomination is made, the nominee’s name will be repeated, and then the presiding officer will ask if there are any further nominations.
  • Each council member should nominate only one person until all other council members have had the opportunity to make their nominations.
  • A nomination does not need a second and should not be submitted to a vote. It is not a motion. The presiding officer should not call for a second and vote on a nomination; too often, it is confused as a vote to appoint.
  • The same person should not be nominated more than once.
  • Once all nominations have been made, the presiding officer closes nominations, and the voting process begins.

Voting

Since we only have one vacant position, the election to appoint someone is simplified, and you follow the process regardless of how people are nominated – even if it’s just one. There are several ways in which a vote can be taken (by ballot, by voice vote, by roll call, by cumulative voting). Still, the most straightforward and transparent way is to take a voice vote on each nominee in the order in which the nominees were nominated. The law only requires that a vacancy be filled by a majority vote of the members present, so if a council member makes a motion to appoint a nominee before the voting process begins, then you can regard it as an interruption and proceed with the process or call for a second and a vote. The process is simple:

  • Since the nominees whose names appear first on the list have a much better chance of being appointed, the process must be explained before any motion or discussion occurs.
  • Each nominee will be voted on separately and in the order in which they were nominated, and once a nominee receives a majority vote, the voting process will be over.
  • All nominees should be listed in the order each was nominated. The presiding officer announces the name of the first nominee, then calls for a motion (to appoint), then a second to the motion, and then calls the question (asks for a vote on the motion to appoint). The town secretary will go around the table, asking each council member to vote yes or no.
  • If the first nominee receives a majority vote in favor of the appointment, the process ends, and the appointee can then qualify for office (take the oath). If the first nominee fails to receive a majority vote, the presiding officer announces the name of the second nominee, then calls for a motion and a second, and then calls the question. The presiding officer should go down the list until someone is appointed.
  • If no nominee receives a majority vote, the presiding officer should start the voting process over again. If that is still unsuccessful, the presiding officer should move on to the next agenda item. The vacancy appointment should come back on the next meeting’s agenda.
  • If there is only one nominee, the appointment must be made by a majority vote (a motion, a second, and a majority vote).

Nominees do not need to leave the room. A nominee can, however, declare that they are unwilling to serve.  You must have resided in Double Oak for at least 12 months to be nominated.

Upon a majority vote, the new council person will be immediately sworn into the open position on the Double Oak Town Council.