§ C-2-1. Mayor and councilmembers—Number, qualifications.

a.

There shall be a mayor elected at large and a council of eight members, which shall consist of one councilmember from each of the eight wards of the city.

b.

Any person who seeks elective office in the City of Lawton, Oklahoma, for municipal government, either by filing a declaration of candidacy or by seeking appointment, must be a registered voter at an address within the municipality if running for mayor, or from an address within the ward if running for a ward position, for at least six (6) months prior to filing a declaration of candidacy or seeking appointment. A change in ward boundaries shall not prohibit a councilmember from completing his term of office. Neither the mayor nor any councilmember may hold any office in the city government by appointment by the city manager or by any subordinate of the city manager.

c.

A person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving embezzlement or a felony under the laws of this state or of the United States or who has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to such misdemeanor involving embezzlement or felony or who has been convicted of a crime in another state which would have been a misdemeanor involving embezzlement or a felony under the laws of this state or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to such crime shall not be eligible to be a candidate for or to be elected to or to be appointed to the offices of mayor or councilmember of this City for a period of fifteen (15) years following completion of his sentence or during the pendency of an appeal of such conviction or plea. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to preclude a person who has received a pardon from being eligible for or from holding the office of mayor or councilmember.

d.

A person who, while in the office of mayor or council member, is convicted of a misdemeanor involving embezzlement or a felony under the laws of this state or of the United States or who has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to such misdemeanor involving embezzlement or felony or who has been convicted of a crime in another state which would have been a misdemeanor involving embezzlement or a felony under the laws of this state or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to such crime shall forfeit his eligibility to remain in the office of mayor or council member of this City and the office shall be vacated immediately when the case is finally determined.

(Res. 2004-153, Amended, 04/18/2005)

( Res. No. 16-63 , Exh. A(Prop. 2), 8-9-2016, appr. 11-8-2016)