GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 607

Short Title:  Williamston Election Method.	(Local)
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Sponsors: Representative Rogers.
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Referred to:  Local and Regional Government II.
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April 8, 1991

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT CHANGING THE METHOD OF ELECTING THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS FOR THE TOWN OF WILLIAMSTON.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Williamston Board of Commissioners shall consist of five members elected in nonpartisan plurality elections for terms of two years.  Elections shall be held at the time provided by State law and, except as otherwise provided in this act, shall be conducted according to general State law.
Sec. 2.  Beginning with the 1991 election, two commissioners shall be elected from each of the two districts described in Section 3, and one commissioner shall be elected from the town at large.  Only the voters residing in a district may vote on the two commissioners for that district, and only persons residing in a district shall be eligible to be candidates for the two offices representing the district.  All voters of the town may vote for the at-large commissioner, and any eligible resident of the town may be a candidate for that office.
Sec. 3.  The election districts are as follows:
District 1 – All of the town within the following line running clockwise from the point where Haughton Street (N.C. Highway 125) intersects with the town limits on the north side of town:  South on Haughton to Williams Street, east on Williams to Park Street, south on Park to U.S. Highway 17 bypass, west on the bypass to Taylor Avenue, north on Taylor to Carolina Avenue, northwest on Carolina to Pinecrest, northeast on Pinecrest to Hanover, northwest on Hanover to Hyland Avenue, west on Hyland to Brownlow Avenue, north on Brownlow to Main Street, east on Main to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad tracks, west on the railroad tracks to the town limits, and north and northeast along the town limits to the starting point.
District 2 – All of the town not included within District 1, including the area annexed in 1990 west of the previous town limits.
Sec. 4.  Following each federal census and each annexation, the Board of Commissioners may, by adoption of a resolution, alter the district boundaries if necessary to comply with the requirements of equal representation.  In making such changes, the Board shall follow the procedures in Chapters 160A and 163 of the General Statutes, except as modified by this act.
Sec. 5.  The districts described in Section 3 have been drawn using 1980 census data and a survey of the number of citizens in the areas annexed since 1980.  The lines have been drawn with the intention of complying with sections 2 and 5 of the federal Voting Rights Act.  If, after 1990 census data is received, it is necessary to alter the district boundaries to maintain equality of population between districts, the Board shall draw the new lines so the districts continue to comply with applicable Voting Rights Act standards.  The Board shall also comply with the Voting Rights Act in redrawing lines after any future census or annexation.
Sec. 6.  Vacancies on the Board shall be filled as provided by general State law.  If a vacancy occurs in one of the four district commissioner offices, the person appointed to fill the vacancy must reside in the district for which the vacancy occurred.
Sec. 7.  The Mayor shall continue to be elected as a separate office by all the voters of the town, and shall continue to serve a term of two years.
Sec. 8.  Chapter 90 of the Session Laws of 1947 is repealed.
Sec. 9.  Chapter 883 of the Session Laws of 1989, which purported to change the method of electing town commissioners but which never took effect because it was not precleared under section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, is also repealed.
Sec. 10.  This act is effective upon ratification.