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Councilmembers are the city’s legislators. Their primary duty is policymaking, which includes identifying the needs of local residents, formulating programs to meet the changing requirements of the community, and measuring the effectiveness of ongoing municipal services. Unless restricted by state law, each councilmember is entitled to vote or abstain on every question decided at a council meeting and has full parliamentary privileges in council meetings—including the right to speak and make motions when recognized by the chair and the right to introduce new ordinances and amendments to existing ones.

Though foremost in importance, lawmaking is just one of many functions councilmembers perform.

• Regulator—The council exercises regulatory powers over the conduct and property of its citizens. It has the power to declare certain conduct to be criminal, to require that certain businesses and activities be licensed, and to tell property owners how and for what purposes they may use their property.

• Financier —The council may levy taxes, assess fees and charges, and sell bonds in order to finance the many functions of the city government. The council also has to budget the expenditure of the city’s funds, and then explain to the people why municipal government is a bargain compared to the price of rampant crime, fires, disease, and all of the other problems that would flourish without proper city services.

• Employer—The council is responsible for all the city’s employees and must see that they are adequately paid and provided with decent working conditions and fringe benefits.

• Buyer—The council is one of the biggest purchasers in the community and must see to it that the city gets the best value possible for dollars spent.

This is not even a complete description of all the challenges that confront councilmembers. The real task is in providing leadership and direction for the city, in deciding what needs to be done, and in helping plan what the city will be for future generations.

Qualifications In general law cities, the qualifications for the office of councilmember are:

1) Be a United States citizen;

2) Have been a resident of Texas for at least 12 months as of the deadline for filing for the office;

3) Have resided in the city for at least six months preceding election day;

4) Be a registered voter;

5) Be 18 years of age or older upon the commencement of the term to be filled at the election;

6) Not have been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities; and

7) Not have been deemed mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court. (Election Code Section 141.001; Local Government Code Sections 22.032 and 23.024).

All members of the city council play unique roles in making the city government operate effectively in a general law city. Many of their functions are set by law, while others are established as a matter of local custom or policy.

Office of the Mayor

The mayor occupies the highest elective office in the municipal government. As political head of the city, the mayor is expected to provide the leadership necessary to keep it moving in the proper direction. Except under the city manager plan of government, the mayor is the city’s chief executive officer. The mayor presides over council meetings and is generally recognized as the ceremonial and governmental head of the city for most purposes.

Most of the powers exercised by the mayor are created through ordinances and resolutions adopted by the city council. Very few mayoral powers are prescribed by state law.

Legislative Responsibilities –The mayor’s most important duty is to carry out the legislative responsibilities he or she shares with other members of the council— identifying the needs of the city, developing programs to satisfy those needs, and evaluating the extent to which municipal services satisfactorily reflect the policy goals of the council. Under the law, the mayor is the presiding officer of the city council. In this capacity as presiding officer, the mayor’s actual powers in legislative matters can be greater than those of other councilmembers. For example, the mayor can influence the flow of debate through the power to recognize councilmembers for motions or statements.

Also, the mayor rules on questions of procedure at council meetings, and those rulings are binding unless successfully challenged by a majority of the governing body.

Finally, the mayor of a Type A general law city can formally object to ordinances and other resolutions passed by the council. If the mayor objects to an ordinance or resolution before the fourth day after it is placed in the city secretary’s office, it must be reconsidered by the governing body. If approved, it becomes effective (Local Government Code Section 52.003).

Appointive Powers — Appointive powers represent another area in which the mayor’s powers often outrank those of councilmembers, especially when the mayor is authorized by ordinance to appoint department heads and advisory board members.

Although most of the mayor’s appointive powers are established by ordinances enacted by the city council, some are established by state law, such as the power to appoint commissioners of a housing authority (Local Government Code Section 392.031).

The mayor serves in the dual roles of administrator and political head of the city, going to city hall on a regular basis, working with department heads on matters that need attention each day, and performing the ceremonial duties that go with the office.

Qualifications of Office In Type A general law City

Every candidate for the office of mayor must meet the following qualifications:

1) Be a United States citizen;

2) Have been a resident of Texas for at least 12 months, as of the deadline for filing for the office;

3) Have resided in the city for at least 12 months preceding election day;

4) Be a registered voter;

5) Be 18 years of age or older upon the commencement of the term to be filled at the election;

6) Not have been convicted of a felony for which he or she has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities; and

7) Not have been deemed mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court. (Election Code Section 141.001; Local Government Code Section 22.032).

The City of Sunrise Beach and Llano County have an interlocal agreement for holding joint elections. Information about the current election may be located on their website at Llano County Elections page.

Election and Voting information may be found on the Secretary of State website.

For more details, including information on political advertising requirements, fundraising rules, and filing schedules, see the Texas Ethics Commission’s (TEC) website at www.ethics.state.tx.us.

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Full Text of the Proposed Constitutional Amendments

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For Early Voting, a voter may vote at any of the locations listed below
Para Votación Adelantada, los votantes podrán votar en cualquiera de las ubicaciones nombradas abajo

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EARLY VOTING HOURS (All Locations Below) | Horario de Votación Temprana (todas las ubicaciones abajo) 

Early voting will be starting Monday, October 20, 2025 and run through Friday, October 31, 2025 (Monday thru Friday- No Weekends)
(La votación anticipada comenzará el lunes 20 de octubre de 2025 y se extenderá hasta el viernes 31 de octubre de 2025) (Lunes a viernes, no fines de semana)

MAIN EARLY VOTING LOCATION: Monday, October 20, 2025 and run through Friday, October 31, 2025
8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. 
Last 2 days of early voting at THIS LOCATION ONLY, October 30 and 31, will be 7:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m.
Llano County Library-  102 E. Haynie, Llano, Texas 78643 click for directions using Google Maps

BRANCH EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS: Monday, October 20, 2025 and run through Friday, October 31, 2025
8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Kingsland Public Library– 125 W. Polk, Kingsland, Tx 78639 click for directions using Google Maps
City of Horseshoe Bay Chamber Room– 1 Community Dr. Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657 click for directions using Google Maps

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ELECTION DAY INFORMATION | Sitios de votación el Día de Elección
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
(Martes, 4 de noviembre de 2025)
Polls will be open 7:00am until 7:00 pm at each location (Las urnas estarán abiertas de 7:00 a.m. a 7:00 p.m. en cada lugar)
On Election Day, voters must vote in the precinct where registered to vote. 
(El Día de Elección, los votantes deberán votar en el precinto donde están inscritos para votar, a menos que el programa de sitios de votación del condado se está utilizando en la elección.)

ELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATIONS | LUGARES DE VOTACIÓN EL DÍA DE LAS ELECCIONES
These locations are proposed and will be updated should there be a change
Precinct 101- Llano County Ag & Health Bldg.  1447 E. State Hwy 71 Ste B, Llano, TX 78643
Precinct 102-Bluelake Golf Course Community Room 214 W Bluebonnet Rd, Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657
Precinct 108- Sunrise Beach City Hall Civic Center Complex 124 Sunrise Beach, Sunrise Beach, TX 78643
Precincts 109- Horseshoe Bay City of Horseshoe Bay Council Chambers 1 Community Dr., Horseshoe Bay, TX 78657
Precincts 203- East Llano County Annex 8347 RR 1431 West Buchanan Dam, TX 78609
Precinct 204- Bluffton Lakeshore Branch Library7346 RR 261, Buchanan Dam, TX  78609
Precinct 205- Tow Community Building- 135 CR 221   TOW, Texas 78643
Precinct 307- Kingsland Kingsland Public Library 125 W. Polk, Kingsland, TX 78639
Precinct 410- West Llano Llano County Library 102 E. Haynie, Llano, TX 78643

Your Voting Precinct number is printed on your Voter Certificate, or you can call the Llano County Elections Office for assistance: (325) 247-5425

The 2026 City General Election

The general election for members of the City Council is held annually on the 1st Saturday in May, as set as a Texas Uniform Election Date. Find additional election-related dates and information at https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/important-election-dates.shtml#2025 (2026 dates not posted by SoS as of 11/10/2024, but such dates are set by the Texas Election Code and are not discretionary).

The May 2, 2026, General Election is set to be held at the Sunrise Beach Civic Center, located at 124 Sunrise Drive, Sunrise Beach, TX. Filing for a place on the ballot is set by state statute and expected to run from January 14 to February 13, 2026.

Filing requirements are per state statute, available at https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/index.shtm.

Per the Sec. of State’s CSO-3449 Advisory of August 3, 2020, candidate applications may be filed:

• in person, with the City Secretary’s office at City Hall; 
• by mail; an application submitted by mail is considered to be filed at the time of its receipt by the appropriate filing authority. (Secs. 143.007(b); 144.005(b)); or
• by fax or email – “A signed, sworn, scanned candidate application (and petition, if applicable) may be submitted by fax or email if there is no filing fee [the City of Sunrise Beach does not require a filing fee]. Please be advised that an application must be notarized prior to filing via fax or email.”

The Notice of Deadline to File an Application for Place on the Ballot for the May 2, 2026, general election was posted at City Hall and here .

The drawing for ballot order will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 8:15 a.m., in the Council chamber at City Hall, posted at City Hall and here on October 2, 2025.

Candidate filing requirements

Filing requirements are per state statute, available at https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/index.shtml,

Per the Sec. of State’s CSO-3449 Advisory of August 3, 2020, candidate applications may be filed:

• in person, with the City Secretary’s office at City Hall; 
• by mail; an application submitted by mail is considered to be filed at the time of its receipt by the appropriate filing authority. (Secs. 143.007(b); 144.005(b)); or
• by fax or email – “A signed, sworn, scanned candidate application (and petition, if applicable) may be submitted by fax or email if there is no filing fee [the City of La Porte Charter does not require a filing fee]. Please be advised that an application must be notarized prior to filing via fax or email.”

Ballot Preview

Internet Posting Requirements 2026

Notice of Deadline to File Application

Notice of Election

Order of Election

APPLICATION FOR A PLACE ON THE BALLOT FOR A GENERAL ELECTION

Candidate filing REQUIREMENT Schedule

Candidates Guide 2026

Filing as a Candidate in a Local General Election

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS

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