# SECTION 4. VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF MAYOR.

<div class="rbox Normal-Level" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0%C2%A0%28a%29-%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0absence.%C2%A0wh"><div><div> (a) Absence. When the Mayor is absent or inaccessible or is unable, for any cause or reason to perform his duties, the President of Council shall become the Acting Mayor, but he shall not thereby cease to be President of Council.</div></div></div><div class="clearfix" id="bkmrk-"></div><div class="rbox Normal-Level" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%28b%29-%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0absence-o"><div><div> (b) Absence of President of Council. In the event the President of Council shall be absent or inaccessible or, for any reason, unable to perform his duties as Acting Mayor, then the President pro tem of the Council shall become the Acting Mayor with all the powers and duties of the Mayor, but he shall not thereby cease to be a member of Council.</div></div></div><div class="Normal-Level" id="bkmrk--1"><div></div></div><div class="clearfix" id="bkmrk--2"></div><div class="rbox Normal-Level" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%28c%29%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0vacancy.%C2%A0i"><div><div> (c) Vacancy. In the event the office of Mayor shall become vacant for any cause or reason, the office of Mayor shall be filled according to the following order of succession: Council President unless he or she is unable or declines to serve as Mayor, then the Council members at large in descending order of longevity in service unless all Council members at large are unable or decline to serve as Mayor, then the ward Council members in descending order of longevity unless all ward Council members are unable or decline to serve as Mayor, then the Director of Finance unless he or she is unable or declines to serve as Mayor, then the Director of Law.</div></div></div><div class="clearfix" id="bkmrk--3">  
</div><div class="rbox Normal-Level" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0in-the-event-that"><div><div> In the event that more than one Council member at large or more than one ward Council member have the same longevity in service, then the Council member at large or ward Council member, of those who have the same longevity in service, who received the largest number of votes in the most recent general election shall stand next in the order of succession.</div></div></div><div class="clearfix" id="bkmrk--4">  
</div><div class="rbox Normal-Level" id="bkmrk-%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0any-person-fillin"><div><div> Any person filling a vacancy in the office of Mayor shall serve for the unexpired term until a successor is duly elected and qualified. In the event any member of Council fills a vacancy in the office of Mayor, his or her prior office shall become vacant. In the event that a department head fills a vacancy in the office of Mayor he or she shall not thereby cease to retain his or her office as a department head and shall not thereby have his or her salary or benefits reduced while serving for the unexpired term of Mayor.</div><div></div><div>(Amended 11-3-15)</div></div></div>