Election Information

General Information

General Municipal Elections are held every year on the May uniform election date authorized by state law. The uniform May election date is the first Saturday of the month. The May 2024 Election will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024. The following offices will be on the 2024 Ballot:

3 Alderman positions (two-year terms) Alderman Place 1, Alderman Place 2, and Alderman Place 5

Filing Period for a Place on the Ballot & Location (where to File)

First day to file is Wednesday, January 17, 2024
Last day to file is Friday, February 16, 2024

Physical address for filing applications for a place on the ballot:

City of Shallowater
801 Avenue G
Shallowater, Texas 79363

Candidate Qualifications for City Council

MUST be a citizen of the United States.
MUST be at least 18 years old.
MUST NOT have been determined mentally incapacitated by a final judgment of a court.
MUST NOT have been finally convicted of a felony (unless pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities).
MUST have resided in Texas continuously for one year.
MUST have resided in the city for at least 6 months prior to the filing date of the election

If you satisfy the above requirements, you may submit an application during the designated filing period. Applications must be submitted to the Office of the City Secretary at the City of Shallowater City Hall.

Texas Ethics Commission Campaign Finance Filings

State law requires the filing of various forms by a candidate for city office. All candidates for city offices must file an “Appointment of a Campaign Treasurer by a Candidate” form with the city secretary before beginning their campaigns. Candidates who do not intend to accept more than $1,010 in political contributions or make more than $1,010 in political expenditures may file a modified reporting declaration and operate under modified reporting. Under modified reporting, the candidate is not required to file any further forms beyond the final report, which is filed at the end of the campaign. Semiannual reports may still be required in some cases. Candidates who intend to accept more than $1,010 in political contributions or make more than $1,010 in political expenditures, or who exceed that amount even after filing for modified reporting, must file under regular reporting requirements. Reports due under these requirements must be submitted by January 15 and July 15 of each year. The reports filed on these dates are known as semiannual reports. An opposed candidate in an upcoming city election who is using regular reporting must file reports of contributions and expenditures 30 days and 8 days before the election. A candidate in a runoff must file a report 8 days before the runoff election. Candidates filing under regular reporting are also required to file a final report at the end of the campaign. Detailed information on filing is available on the Texas Ethics Commission’s website at https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/

The Shallowater City Council

POWERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

All powers of the city and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in the council. Without limitation of the foregoing, and among the other powers that may be exercised by the council, the following are hereby enumerated for greater certainty:

To appoint and remove the City Administrator.
To establish other administrative departments and distribute the work of divisions and to abolish or consolidate said departments and divisions.
Adopt the budget of the City of Shallowater.
Inquire into the conduct of any officers, departments or agency of the city and make investigations as to
municipal affairs.
To appoint the necessary commissions and boards to assist the council in the performance of its duties and responsibilities, such powers subject to the restrictions of this charter and the laws of the State of Texas.
Adopt plats.
Adopt and modify the official map of the city.
Authorize the issuance of bonds by a bond ordinance.
Adopt and modify the zoning plan and the building code of the City.
Provide for an independent yearly audit.
Fix salaries and compensation of non-elective city offices and employees.
Compromise and settle any and all claims and lawsuits of every kind and character in favor of or against the City.

VACANCIES

A vacancy occurring in the council, including the office of mayor, shall be filled by a person having the qualifications of an elective official of the city and selected in the following manner: If a single vacancy occurs and the council member's seat which is vacated has less than one year remaining, then the council may appoint a successor to serve the remainder of the term. If the position that is vacated has more than one year remaining, then the council shall appoint a successor to serve until the next regular city election at which time the position will be placed on the ballot for the unexpired term. If two or more vacancies occur at one time, a special election shall be called by the remaining members of the council in accordance with the Election Code to fill the vacancies for the unexpired terms.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

The city council shall hold at least one regular meeting in each month, at a time to be fixed by it for such regular meetings, and may hold as many additional regular or emergency meetings during the month as may be necessary for the transaction of the business of the city and its citizens. All meetings of the City Council must be conducted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, as amended, or successor statute.

VOTING POWERS OF THE COUNCIL

In all matters of consideration before the city council, equal voting powers are hereby bestowed upon the mayor and each council member. The mayor shall vote on each issue along with the council members and a majority vote of the city council shall determine the outcome of the question.
City Council regular meetings are held on 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00p.m. Agendas and minutes are posted on website under Agendas & Minutes.

City of Shallowater Government

The City of Shallowater is a Type A General Law city, governed locally by an elected City Council consisting of a Mayor and five Aldermen.

The City of Shallowater has a Mayor-Council Structure

The mayor is the ceremonial head of government and presides over the council or board of aldermen meetings.
The council sets meetings.
The council sets policy.
Broad administrative authority is vested with the mayor and members of the council with an administrator and designated department heads appointed by the mayor and council.

Basic Services Provided

The basic services provided by the city are as follows:

Public Safety: police, fire, and ambulance service
Utilities: water and sewer, and trash collection
Land Use: planning, zoning, code enforcement, and other regulatory activities
Transportation: street maintenance
Recreation/Culture: Young City Park and Splash Pad
Legal: ordinances protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of the City of Shallowater

2024 City of Shallowater Elected Official Election

Starting Wednesday, January 17th, 2024 – 2024 Election Candidate Packets may be picked up from the Shallowater City Hall located at 801 Avenue G, Shallowater, Texas, 79363, between the hours of 8:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m. Monday -Friday and must be returned to the same address to the attention of the City Secretary by end of business Friday, February 16th, 2024.

2024 Candidate Packet

CAMPAIGN SIGNAGE

Temporary, unlighted political signs supporting an announced candidate, a party, or an issue shall be allowed in any district and placed in any yard for a period of thirty (30) days prior to any election, and shall be removed within ten (10) days after the election or run-off election to which the sign pertains or after the termination of candidacy, whichever occurs first. No sign shall be erected without the permission of the owner. No such sign shall have a height of more than three (3) feet above grade, and the combined area of all political signs on a property shall not exceed four (4) square feet for every forty (40) lineal feet of property frontage or fraction thereof.

Voter Information

Maps

General Information

The Shallowater City Council

2024 City of Shallowater Elected Official Election