2-624.   Same; governing body, terms, composition and election; vacancies;annual organization.(a) The governing body of each extension district shall becomposed of four representatives from each county included in the extensiondistrict. At the conclusion of the terms of the members first appointed tomembership on the governing body of the district, thefour members representing each county in an extension districtshall be elected in a county-wide election by the qualified electors of thecounty.

      (b)   At the conclusion of the terms of the members first appointed tomembership on the governing body of the district, eachmember of the governing body shall hold office for a term of fouryears and until such member's successor is elected and qualified.Each such term of office shall commenceon the date of receipt of certification of election by the member electedand shall continue until the member's successor is elected and qualified.

      (c) (1)   Except as otherwise provided in this act, an election to electsuccessors to members of the governing body whose terms are expiring shall beheld on the first Tuesday in April in each odd-numbered year.

      (2)   Elections to choose members of the governing body of an extensiondistrict shall be conducted, the returns made and the results ascertained inthe manner provided by law for general county elections except as otherwiseprovided by this act. Not later than 12:00 noon of the Wednesday nextfollowing the Tuesday, five weeks preceding the first Tuesday in April inodd-numbered years, each person desiring to be a candidate for membership onthe governing body, in any election, shall file adeclaration of candidacy with the county election officer of the countyrepresented by the member of the governing body whose successor is to beelected, as a candidate in such election. The county election officer in makingup the ballots and in placing the names thereon shall place the names on theballots in alphabetical order.

      (3)   The county election officer of each county within the extensiondistrict shall appoint election boards as provided by law for other electionsand shall designate places for holding the election. The county electionofficer shallcause to be ascertained the names of all persons within the district who arequalified electors, and shall furnish lists thereof to the judges of theelection. Notice of the time and place of holding each election, signed by thecounty election officer, shall be given in a newspaper published in the countyand posted in a conspicuous place in the office of the governing body atleast five days before the holding thereof.

      (4)   All election expenses shall be paid by the extension district.Election officials shall receive the same compensation asprovided under the general election laws.

      (e)   Any vacancy in the membership of the governing body of an extensiondistrict shall be filled by appointment by the governing body for the unexpiredterm of office. Each member so appointed shall be a resident of the countywhich was represented by the member creating the vacancy.

      (f)   The governing body of each extension district shall organize annually inJuly by electing from among its members a chairperson,vice-chairperson, secretary and treasurer.

      History:   L. 1991, ch. 2, § 2;L. 1994, ch. 225, § 2; July 1.