An election is held each year on the second Saturday in May to elect Councilmembers. In even-numbered years, an election is held to fill Places 3, 4 and 5; in odd-numbered years, the Mayor and Places 1, 2 and 6 are elected. The Mayor and Places 5 and 6 are considered at-large positions. Councilmembers elected to fill Places 1, 2, 3 and 4 are required to live in their respective districts; however, all places are voted into office by the entire City electorate. All positions serve for two-year terms unless vacancies or resignations require that the positions be filled to complete unexpired terms.

Early Voting in Mesquite will be conducted at Lakeside Activity Center, 101 Holley Park Drive rather than Dunford Recreation Center, as in previous years.

The City Charter requires that district boundaries be reviewed every three years for even distribution of population. The districts were last reviewed in December 2008 and Ordinance No. 4008 was adopted revising the districts.

2009 City Council Candidates

The current Mayor and City Council are as follows:

MAY 9, 2009 ELECTION DAY POLLING PLACES
AND PRECINCTS

DALLAS COUNTY PRECINCTS LOCATED WITHIN MESQUITE’S CITY LIMITS

KAUFMAN COUNTY PRECINCTS PARTIALLY LOCATED IN MESQUITE’S CITY LIMITS

Per the attached Notice of Voting Rights Submission to the U.S. Department of Justice, the City Secretary filed the following changes under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act:

1. Realignment of City Council Districts as adopted by Ordinance No. 4008 on December 15, 2008. The City Charter requires the Council to review City Council District boundaries every three years in order to maintain equal apportionment of inhabitants in each district. The previous review of Council Districts occurred in 2005.


2. Change in early voting location for all municipal elections from Scott Dunford Recreation Center, 1015 Green Canyon Drive, to Lakeside Activity Center, 101 Holley Park Drive. Effective with the May 9, 2009, General Election, early voting will be moved from Scott Dunford Recreation Center to Lakeside Activity Center. Dunford is used for after-school programs for Beasley Elementary School. For each municipal election, staff at Dunford must work to maintain its after-school recreation programs for students while minimizing disruptions for voters. By making this move, Lakeside can be dedicated for the use of early voting without disruptions. And, Lakeside is more centrally located for easier access by the entire electorate.


3. change in election day voting locations for municipal runoff elections when no other entities’ issues are on the ballot. This change will only be implemented for municipal runoff elections. By moving all election day voting to Lakeside, the City will eliminate voting at nine polling locations to make runoff elections more cost efficient and will establish one central location for all voters.