Voters in Slidell will decide seven proposed amendments to the city’s charter on Nov. 18, including a change that would increase the time mayoral and City Council candidates must have lived in the city in order to run for office.
Another change affects how an acting police chief would be appointed, should the chief step down for any reason. The mayor could appoint an acting chief with the council’s approval, and the candidate would not have to live inside the city limits but could live in Wards 8 or 9, which are in the Slidell area.
The other proposed amendments deal with the publication and duration of emergency ordinances, the appointment of a council administrator and the time in which the council has to appoint people to vacant council positions.
Early voting ends Nov. 11. There will be no early voting on Nov. 10, when polls are closed in observance of Veterans Day.
Slidell City Council member at large Bill Borchert said none of the amendments has generated much talk among voters.
“None of them are controversial,” he said. “It’s mostly housekeeping things.”
The amendments are listed on the ballot as propositions 1-7.
Amendment 1 would double the time a mayoral candidate must have lived in the city in order to run for the office from one year to two years.
Amendment 2 would double the time City Council candidates must live in the city and in the district in which they want to run. They would have to live in the city for two years and in the district for one year.