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Elections

2013 Municipal Election

The City of Gainesville will hold its next General Election in November 2013. This election will address Council Member and Board of Education Member seats for Wards 1 and 4. It will also provide for the first elected Mayor as allowed by the revised Charter approved by Governor Deal on April 11, 2012.

General Power and Authority of the Governing Body

Except as otherwise provided by law or the Charter, the governing body shall be vested with all the powers of government of the City. In addition to all other powers conferred upon it by law, the governing body shall have the authority to adopt and provide for the execution of such ordinances, resolutions, rules, and regulations, not inconsistent with the Charter and the Constitution and the laws of the State of Georgia, which it shall deem necessary, expedient, or helpful for the peace, good order, protection of life and property, health, welfare, sanitation, comfort, convenience, prosperity, or well-being of the inhabitants of the City of Gainesville and may enforce such ordinances by imposing penalties for violations thereof.

Powers and Duties of the Mayor

The Mayor shall:

Preside at meetings of the governing body where he or she shall have all the rights, powers, duties, and responsibilities of a Council Member except that the Mayor shall not make a motion or second a motion and shall be entitled to vote on matters before the governing body only when there is an equal division on the question or in the case where his or her vote will provide the fourth affirmative vote required for approval of a matter, and then the Mayor shall determine the matter by his or her vote. The Mayor shall also be entitled to vote on the election and removal of the following officers and employees of the Council: Mayor Pro Tempore, City Manager, City Attorney, Municipal Court Judge, Solicitor and City Auditor;
Be the head of the City for the purpose of service of process and for ceremonial purposes and be the official spokesperson for the City and the chief advocate of policy;
Have power to administer oaths and to take affidavits; and
Sign all ordinances and resolutions approve by a majority vote of the governing body and other instruments executed by the City which by law are required to be signed by the Mayor.

Qualifying Fees:

Qualifying fees were established via Business Resolution 2013-08. They were published on January 31st and are set as follows:

Mayor - $35.00
Council Member - $621.00
Board of Education Member - $165.87

The qualifying period will begin August 26th at 8:30 AM and will close on August 28th at 5:00 PM.

More information will be posted as it becomes available. Questions should be submitted City Clerk Denise Jordan at djordan@gainesville.org.