Whitehouse council reviews mayoral replacement and term-limit language for possible ballot

President of Council Steve Fine opened a review of a proposed mayoral replacement ordinance, stressing the conversation was not about the current mayor but about language that had been discussed previously for the ballot. Solicitor Kevin Heban reminded Council that earlier consideration included allowing the mayor appointment and disciplinary authority over employees, but Council previously limited ballot language to mayoral term limits.

Fine raised practical concerns about scenarios the Council wanted to avoid, including what happens when the Council president becomes mayor and thereby vacates a Council seat. He also asked how long a Council seat might remain empty, and whether a mayor who resigns could quickly run for Council in the same election cycle. Fine suggested adding a qualification that a mayor who previously resigned would have to wait until the next election cycle to run again; Heban said he would "review the idea of malfeasance or misfeasance and how those would fit here" and draft legislation for circulation to Council for review.

Councilman Larry Yunker added a procedural question about how long a Council seat would be unfilled after such a change. The discussion did not include final language or a vote; it concluded with a direction for the solicitor to draft and circulate proposed text for Council consideration.