Petaluma Municipal Code Ch. 5.01 Mayoral Elections

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the election of the city’s separately elected mayor in accordance with

Section 10 of Article IV of the City Charter and in harmony with Chapter 5.02 governing the city’s district elections.

(Ord. 2803 NCS §4, 2022.)

Candidates for mayor must be eligible electors in accordance with Section 11 of Article IV of the City Charter who

have resided in the city for at least the thirty days immediately preceding the time they Ele nominating papers or

equivalent declarations of candidacy for such oGce, or for such person’s appointment to Ell a vacancy. (Ord. 2803

NCS §4, 2022.)

The oGce of mayor of the city shall be elected at large in a citywide election of all eligible electors in the city in all

city election districts. (Ord. 2803 NCS §4, 2022.)

Commencing with the general municipal election in 2022 and every four years thereafter, the mayor shall be

elected at large in accordance with Section 5.01.020 during the same statewide general election during the

midterm elections at which three other city council members are elected by district in accordance with Section

5.02.040. (Ord. 2803 NCS §4, 2022.)

Any registered voters in any city election district may sign nomination papers for candidates for the oGce of

mayor. (Ord. 2803 NCS §4, 2022.)

In accordance with Section 4 of Article III and Section 6 of Article IV of the City Charter, the successful mayoral

candidate shall be the eligible candidate for mayor that receives the greatest number of votes cast by all eligible

electors in the city in all city election districts in accordance with Section 5.01.030 and Government Code Section

15452 as amended from time to time or any successor statute. (Ord. 2803 NCS §4, 2022.)

The term of oGce of the mayor shall be four years beginning the Erst regular city council meeting in January after

the mayor’s election and continuing until the mayor’s successor is elected and qualiEed in accordance with Section

15 of Article IV of the City Charter. (Ord. 2803 NCS §4, 2022.)

A vacancy in the oGce of mayor shall be Elled by city council appointment of an eligible city elector from the city at

large in accordance with Section 13 of Article IV of the City Charter and the requirements of Section 5.01.020. (Ord.

2803 NCS §4, 2022.)