12-104a. Cities, consolidated cities and counties; procedure for filling prolonged vacancies. (a) The purpose of this section is to provide an orderly and prompt means of filling vacancies in the governing body of a municipality. Prolonged vacancies in the governing body of a municipality deprive citizens of their right to representation and act as impediments to the orderly function of government of municipalities.

(b) As used in this section, the following terms are defined as follows:

(1) "Governing body" shall include the mayor and members of the council, the mayor and commissioners or the chairperson and members of the board of supervisors, depending on the form of government of the city or the consolidated city and county.

(2) "Municipality" means any city or any consolidated city and county.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), the governing body of any municipality where a vacancy exists shall appoint, by a majority vote of the remaining members, a person to fill the vacancy within 60 days of the vacancy. If the appointment is not made within the 60-day time frame, the governing body shall pass a resolution calling for a special election to fill such vacancy to be held within 45 days of the passage of such resolution. Candidates for the vacant office shall file for such office as provided in K.S.A. 25-2110a, and amendments thereto. The special election shall be conducted by the county election officer. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for the vacant position shall assume such office upon certification of the election results.

(d) The provisions of subsection (c) shall not apply to any municipality which has a procedure for filling vacancies in its governing body and which has filled such vacancies within 60 days of the vacancy.

History: L. 2015, ch. 88, § 71; July 1.