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Alabama local officials
Local officials in Alabama are in charge of running the municipal governments for the counties, cities, townships, villages and school districts.
Elected positions
The following are elected positions for municipal governments according the Alabama Constitution. The election days may vary as the local entities have the choice to switch these dates.[1]
| Position | Term length | Elected in |
|---|---|---|
| Mayor | 4 years | November |
| County Commissioner | 4 years | November |
| Sheriff | 4 years | November |
| Coroner | 4 years | November |
| Treasurer | 4 years | November |
| Tax assessor | 6 years | November |
| Tax collector | 6 years | November |
Appointed positions
The following are appointed positions for municipal governments according the Alabama Constitution.
| Position | Term / contract length | Appointed by | Who cannot serve |
|---|---|---|---|
| County engineer | Cannot exceed 5 years | County commissioners | Consulting firms |
| County surveyors (2) | 3 years | County commissioners | Court must be satisfied of qualifications |
History
Up until the late 1970s, the predominant form of municipal government in the state of Alabama was commissions, whose members were elected either at-large or by district.[2] In the late 1970's there were a number of court rulings that said districts must vote by mayor-council form in order to allow more opportunity for black officials.[2] However, in 1980 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Mobile may elect its public officials at-large.[2]
See also
External links
- Project Vote Smart, Alabama local officials
- Alabama State and Local Government (dead link)
- Alabama.gov, Local government
Footnotes
