The metropolitan-government shall be governed by a commission of nine part-time members and a full-time mayor. The election for the first officers of the metropolitan-government shall be held on the date established by the judge of probate. Before such election the governing body of the municipalities and the county shall cause the metropolitan area to be divided into nine districts containing as nearly as possible an equal number of people. The division of the metropolitan-government into districts shall be by a committee appointed as follows: Three persons appointed by the Limestone County Commission; two persons appointed by the Athens City Commission; two persons by a committee of mayors from the four incorporated cities; one person appointed by the Limestone County School Board; and one person appointed by the Athens City School Board. Candidates for metropolitan-government offices shall qualify in the manner prescribed in the general municipal election laws and shall have the qualifications and eligibility set forth therein. Each candidate shall announce that he or she is to become a candidate for mayor on a metropolitan-wide basis, or commissioner for one of the nine district posts. A candidate for a district position shall reside in his or her district. Each voter in the election may cast one vote for a candidate for mayor, and one vote for the candidate from the district in which he or she resides. Any candidate receiving a majority (one more than 50 percent) of the total votes cast for mayor, or district post shall be elected. In the event no candidate receives a majority there shall be a run-off election for such place held in the manner prescribed by the general municipal election laws. The commissioner elected shall take office as herein provided. Each elected official shall hold office for four years and shall serve until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified.
Last modified: May 3, 2021