(A) The district must be governed by a commission to be known as the Landrum Fire and Rescue District Commission (commission). The commission shall consist of five resident electors of the district, two residing in Region 1, two residing in Region 2, and one residing in Region 3; however, upon the effective date of this act and prior to the election of commissioners, the City Council of the City of Landrum shall appoint two commissioners, the County Council of Spartanburg County shall appoint two commissioners, and the members of the Board of Directors of Foothills Fire Service Area Board shall appoint one commissioner, with each commissioner serving until his or her successor is elected and qualifies.

(B) After the original appointments, a nonpartisan election must be conducted by the Greenville and Spartanburg County Boards of Voter Registration and Elections on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of the first odd-numbered year after the effective date of this act. The county boards of voter registration and elections shall give notice by publication ninety days prior to the election and a second notice two weeks after the first notice, in one or more newspapers of general circulation in the district. The terms of the commissioners who receive the highest number of votes from Regions 1 and 2 and the term of the commissioner from Region 3 shall expire on December thirty-first of the fourth full year following the election. The terms of the remaining commissioners shall expire on December thirty-first of the second full year following the election. After these terms expire, each successor commissioner's term must be four years, and each successor commissioner must be elected during the general election in November prior to the expiration of a commissioner's term. These terms shall commence on the first day of January in the year following the election.

(C) A vacancy occurring on the commission by reason of death, resignation, incapacity, or otherwise, must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the Governor upon recommendation by the members of the South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives who represent the district. Upon a commissioner moving his legal residence out of the appropriate district region, dying, or resigning, that commissioner's position automatically becomes vacant.

(D) A resident qualified elector of the district may be a candidate for election to the position of commissioner by filing with the county board of voter registration and elections of the county in which he resides at least ninety days prior to the election.

HISTORY: 2015 Act No. 48 (H.3304), Section 1, eff June 3, 2015.