City Charter Amendments, Sample Ballots for May 3 Election

What is the Charter?
The state allows municipalities over 5,000 in population to adopt a Home Rule Charter. The City of Vernon adopted a Home Rule Charter in 1916. The charter is the framework for our local government much like the Constitution forms the basis of our state and national governments.

Why change the Charter?
The City Charter should be reviewed from time to time to follow state and federal laws and remove obsolete wording. The last review of the City of Vernon Charter was in 2016. Any amendments must be approved by voters.

Who Proposed the Amendments?
The City Commission ordered an election for May 3rd, 2025 which proposes the charter amendments.

What your vote means
The ballot will include the proposed amendments and provide an option to vote “yes” or “no”. A “yes” vote will mean you want the amendment to be incorporated into the City Charter. A “no” vote mean the existing wording will remain the same.

The following is a brief description of the proposed amendments. A complete copy of the charter is on the City of Vernon website at www.vernontx.gov. A copy may also be obtained from the City Secretary at City Hall 1725 Wilbarger St.

Charter Amendment 1:
Article IX Sec.9-2 Terms of office of mayor and commissioners shall be amended and shall now read:
“The mayor and each commissioner, shall serve for a term of three years and until his successor is elected and qualified unless sooner removed from office as herein provided.

The current term for the mayor and commissioners is a two year term. Moving to a three year term allows the mayor and commissioners to serve a longer term which would provide for consistent leadership and fewer elections which will save the city approximately $6,000 or more per election. If the Charter amendment changing the term of office for the Mayor and Commissioners passes, the current Mayor and commissioners will serve out their two year term and their next term would be 3 years. The two commissioner spots on the ballot would be elected for a two year term and their next term would be 3 years as well.
Charter Amendment 2:
Article IX Sec.9-4, Qualifications of officers and employees; conflict of interests; police principles shall be amended by adding this provision:
“ If any of the elected officials of the city shall announce their candidacy, or shall in fact become a candidate, in any General, Special or Primary Election, for any office of profit or trust under the laws of this State or the United States other than the office then held, at any time during the term of the office then held, even in the event that term of office is unexpired, such announcement or such candidacy shall constitute an automatic resignation of the office then held, and the vacancy thereby created shall be filled pursuant to law in the same manner as other vacancies for such office are filled.”

This provision is known as “Resign to Run”. A sitting mayor or commissioner must resign their current seat in order to run for a different position in any election. The financial impact of this amendment is negligible.

Early voting begins April 21st – 29th, 2025
Election Day is May 3rd, 2025
All voting will be held at the Wilbarger County Memorial Auditorium.
The last day to request a ballot by mail is April 22nd, 2025. Contact:
City Secretary, Marsha Jo Stone
1725 Wilbarger
Vernon, Texas 76384
940-552-2581
citysec@vernontx.gov