HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 322

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF WILMINGTON RELATING TO QUALIFICATIONS FOR MAYOR.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend § 3-300 of the Charter of the City of Wilmington by making insertions as shown by underline and deletions as shown by strike through.

Sec. 3-300. - Mayor.

The mayor shall have been a resident of the city for at least two (2) years preceding election, shall be at least thirty (30) twenty-five (25) years of age at the time of his election and shall remain a resident during the term of office.

SYNOPSIS

This bill lowers the mayoral age requirement from 30 to 25. This change makes the Mayor’s age requirement consistent with that for City Councilmen. Under the City ‘s Charter, if the Mayor resigns, dies or is unable to perform his/her duties, the Council President takes the Mayor’s place. This succession would prove problematic if the Council President does not meet the age requirement for Mayor.