League City will hold a special election in January to fill the unexpired term of Position 4 on council following the resignation of John Bowen in early November.
The city council on Tuesday approved the special election scheduled for Jan. 13. The candidate filing period began Wednesday.
Bowen announced his resignation from the position on Oct. 31 and officially stepped down Nov. 10, leaving the seat vacant, according to council documents.
Bowen said he stepped down over his objection to a state law that recently took effect in League City requiring elected officials in cities with a population over 100,000 to file an annual statement to the city clerk and secretary disclosing the financial activity of spouses and dependent children.
According to the Texas Municipal League website, the law also requires elected officials to disclose specific income sources, including investments and earnings, business and real estate interests, contracts with governmental entities, and loans and gifts. Bowen said if he had known the law would go into effect when the city reached 100,000, he wouldn’t have run for office.
Bowen, who said he doesn’t object to disclosures when it relates to council members’ possible financial interests in anything they’re voting on, believes the state law infringes on his Fourth Amendment rights, which is meant to protect people from “unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.”
“It’s one thing if the citizens ask for it, but because it’s a law, to me that’s a violation of my rights,” he said. “Why should anybody need to know where my wife works, how much she makes?”
Bowen was elected in 2020 following a runoff election in which he defeated Rachel McAdam to replace a term-limited Todd Kinsey.
Bowen served three years of a four-year term and said leaving was a difficult personal decision.
“I love this city and really enjoyed serving,” he said. “This is my home and hopefully will be my home for the rest of my life, so it was very tough for me to step down.”
The council item also pre-scheduled a possible runoff election to be held Feb. 17.
Eligible candidates will have until Dec. 4 to file for the position which expires in November 2024, according to the city’s website.
Candidate Filing Period
When: From 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, to 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, 2023
Candidates interested in filing for the position can and fill out a candidate packet on the city’s website.
Candidate Requirements
Candidates must be:
- A citizen of the United States
- Resident of League City for one year preceding the election
- At least 21 years of age
Voting Schedule
In-person early voting lasts from 8 a.m. Dec. 27 to 5 p.m. Jan. 9.
Election Day is Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
