§ 11-43-42 — Exercise of Functions of Mayor During Absence or Disability of Mayor; Filling of Vacancies in Offices of Mayor, President, and President Pro Tempore of Council

(a) In case of the absence of the mayor from a city of 12,000 or more inhabitants or his inability to serve on account of sickness or any other good reason, the president of the council or the president pro tempore of the council in case of absence or disability of the president of the council shall act as mayor pro tempore with the power and authority of the mayor during such time. In the event of a failure or refusal of the president of the council or the president pro tempore of the council to act, the council may appoint one of its members to act as mayor pro tempore with like effect, which appointment shall be entered in the minutes of the council.
In the event of a vacancy from any cause in the office of mayor, the president of the council shall succeed to the office of mayor for the unexpired term. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the president of the council, the president pro tempore shall, in like manner, be president of the council for the unexpired term. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the president pro tempore, the office shall be filled from the membership of the council.
(b) In cities of less than 12,000 inhabitants and in towns, in case of the absence or disability of the mayor, the functions of the office shall be exercised by the chairman pro tempore of the council and, during his absence or disability, by such person as the council may appoint from its membership, which appointment must be entered upon the minutes of the council.
In the event of a vacancy from any cause in the office of mayor, the council shall fill the vacancy either from its own membership or from without the membership of the council. The person elected by the council to fill the vacancy in the office of mayor shall be a qualified elector in the municipality and must meet all other legal qualifications required by law for the performance of the duties of the office to which elected.
(c) In cities having a population of 12,000 or more which have, by ordinance or resolution, adopted by two thirds vote of the city council more than six months prior to any general municipal election, provided that the city council shall consist of five aldermen to be elected from the city at large, there shall be elected by the council and from its members a president of the council and a president pro tempore of the council, which appointments must be entered upon the minutes of the council. In such cities, in case of the absence or disability of the mayor, the functions of the office shall be exercised by the president of the council and, during his absence or disability, by the president pro tempore of the council.
In the event of a vacancy for any cause in the office of mayor, the president of the council shall succeed to the office of mayor for the unexpired term. In the event of a vacancy for any cause in the office of president of the council, the president pro tempore shall, in like manner, be president of the council for the unexpired term.
(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to cities operating under commission form of government.

Legislative History

(Code 1907, §1188; Acts 1923, No. 95, p. 81; Code 1923, §1904; Code 1940, T. 37, §428; Acts 1943, No. 451, p. 414; Acts 1951, No. 604, p. 1041; Acts 1961, No. 666, p. 910, §3.)