The Charter Review Committee is looking at potential options for the May 2023 ballot regarding the police chief position.
Options:
1. No changes, leave it as an elected position.
2. Remain elected position, add minimum qualifications. Currently the only requirements are to be 18 years of age and have resided in San Angelo for two years.
3. Change from elected to appointed (by the city manager) but define a process for the city manager to follow in making his selection for appointment.
The committee will hold a town hall meeting to discuss, clarify and inform the public on research findings from the charter review committee.
6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 – East Reception Room at City Hall, 72 W. College Ave.
The city charter was drafted in 1915 when San Angelo was established as a home-rule city. The document provides a basic structure for our municipal government, outlining what it can and cannot do. As with the Texas and U.S. constitutions, it can be amended, but only with the approval of the City Council and then, ultimately, the voters. Charter elections can be held no sooner than two years after the document was last changed.
Charter Review Committee August presentation to City Council
PDF download of presentation
The City Council in July 2022 appointed seven members to the Charter Review Committee to review the document for potential changes and updates. The committee members and the City Council member who appointed them are:
- Judge Allen Gilbert (Mayor Brenda Gunter).
- Mark Lack (District 1 Council Member Tommy Hiebert).
- Asst. Police Chief David Howard (District 2 Council Member Tom Thompson).
- Kandi Pool (District 3 Council Member Harry Thomas).
- Billie DeWitt (District 4 Council Member Lucy Gonzales).
- Jeff Curry (District 5 Council Member Karen Hesse Smith).
- Ronald JJ Graham (District 6 Council Member Larry Miller).