Update (2/7): City council voted Thursday to call a special election for May 10 to fill the unexpired terms of former District 9 Councilwoman Elisa Chan and former District 10 Councilman Carlton Soules.
Applicants who wish to run in the special election may file for a place on the ballot beginning Feb. 10. The filing deadline is March 10.
According to the Bexar County Elections Office, the city's special election will be held in conjunction with Bexar County's joint general and special election.
Original Post (2/5): A San Antonio City Charter change now says that a special election will be held if a council member's vacant seat has more than nine months remaining in the term.
Such is the case for two city council seats right now, and the city council is expected to call a special election for Sat. May 10.
Two new faces are on the city council right now --Joe Krier in District 9 and Mike Gallagher in District 10 -- but they're appointed members only.
In May, if the city council approves the special election, the two interim councilmen will have the chance to ask residents for their votes to place them permanently in those seats.
The city is expected to call for the election to be held in conjunction with Bexar County's joint general and special election on Saturday, May 10, which would include propositions or other local municipal issues.
If the city's special election is approved, the city clerk will begin taking applications for those interested in the election February 10-March 10. There is a $100 fee or applicants can submit a petition to get on the ballot. A District 9 candidate needs 31 signatures, and a District 10 candidate needs 27 signatures.
Elisa Chan (Dist. 9) and Carlton Soules (Dist. 10) vacated their respective seats to focus on campaigns for other elected offices.
Coincidentally, it was Soules who helped change the city charter to say if a council member steps down with more than 270 days, or nine months, left on his or her term, then voters will get to decide who to place there, instead of the city council.
