Garden City, City of; mayor to fill any vacancy in the office of mayor pro tempore; provide

Garden City sets mayor succession rules

Garden City's mayor must fill any vacancy in the mayor pro tempore office, the city's backup mayor. After an election that elects the mayor, the mayor appoints another council member to that office for four years. The backup serves until a successor is elected and qualified. The backup acts as mayor during the mayor's absence or disability, but gets only one vote on council matters. If the mayor's office becomes vacant, the backup becomes mayor for the rest of the term. A majority of all council members elects a council president, excluding the mayor and backup mayor. The president temporarily fills in when both are unavailable, but does not become mayor through that role. The president serves two years and until a successor is elected and qualified. If the president leaves early, a council majority chooses a replacement at any regular meeting. The council organizes at its first regular meeting after members take their oaths following each regular election. Citywide, four-year mayoral elections began with the election on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2011.