ORDINANCE NO. 119551
AN ORDINANCE submitting a proposition to the qualified electors of the City, at the general election to be held on November 2, 1999, to amend Article XIX, Section 4 of the Charter of the City of Seattle to modify the requirements concerning oaths of office by specifying that the head of every City department shall take and subscribe such an oath or affirmation before entering upon the duties of his or her office, eliminating the requirement that each of the assistants to officers of the City take and subscribe such an oath or affirmation, and clarifying the nature of the oath; ratifying and confirming prior acts; calling on the City Clerk to certify the proposed amendments to the Director of the Department of Records and Elections of King County and directing such Director to submit the proposition to City voters; and providing for the publication of such proposed amendments.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subject to the approval of a proposition by a majority of the qualified electors casting votes thereon, Section 4 of Article XIX of the Charter of the City of Seattle is amended as follows:
ARTICLE XIX Officers; Terms and Vacancies
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Sec. 4. OATH OF OFFICE; OFFICIAL BOND: Every Council((man)) member and every other officer of the City and ((each of his assistants)) the head of every department, before entering upon the duties of his or her office, shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation that he or she possesses all the qualifications prescribed for his or her office, by this Charter; that he or she will support the Constitution of the United States, and of the State of Washington, and the Charter and ordinances of The City of Seattle; that he or she will faithfully comply with and abide by all the requirements of Section 10 of this Article, and that he or she will faithfully ((demean))conduct himself or herself in office. Every officer, when so required by law or ordinance, shall, before entering upon the duties of his or her office, and within ten days after his or her election or appointment, give bond to the City in such sum as shall be designated by ordinance or otherwise, conditioned for the faithful performance of his or her duties, and that he or she will pay over all moneys belonging to the City, as provided by law. If any person elected or appointed to any office shall fail to take or subscribe such oath or affirmation, or to give bond, as herein required, his or her office shall be deemed vacant.
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Section 2. The King County Director of Records and Elections, as ex officio supervisor of elections, is hereby directed to submit to the qualified electors of the City the proposition set forth below at the City general election on November 2, 1999.
The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to certify the proposition to the King County Director of Records and Elections in the following form:
Proposed City Charter Amendment No.____
Shall the Seattle City Charter be amended to modify the requirements for oaths of office by specifying that the head of every City department shall take and subscribe such an oath before entering upon the duties of his or her office, eliminating the requirement that assistants to City officers take and subscribe such an oath, and clarifying the nature of the oath, and shall Article XIX, Section 4 be amended accordingly?
Yes ____ No ____
Every qualified voter at the election desiring to ratify the proposition shall mark his or her ballot "Yes." Every qualified voter desiring to reject the proposition shall mark his or her ballot "No."
Section 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the Director of the Department of Records and Elections of King County as Supervisor of Elections the charter amendment proposed herein in the form of a ballot title conforming to the foregoing statement of the same, and shall certify a copy of the proposed charter amendment, and the same shall be published by the City Clerk in two daily newspapers in the City for at least thirty (30) days prior to such election, and as required by RCW 35.22.170.
Section 4. Certification of the charter amendments proposed herein by the City Clerk to the Director of Records and Elections and any other act pursuant to the authority and prior to the effective date of this ordinance is hereby ratified and confirmed.
Section 5. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force immediately upon approval by the Mayor or, if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten (10) days after presentation, then on the eleventh (11th) day after its presentation to the Mayor or, if vetoed by the Mayor, then immediately upon its passage over his veto.
Passed by the City Council the 19 day of July, 1999, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this 19 day of July, 1999.
Sue Donaldson, President of the City Council
Approved by me this 19 day of July, 1999.
Paul Schell, Mayor
Filed by me this 23 day of July, 1999.
Ernie Dornfeld, Acting City Clerk
Filed by me this 26 day of July, 1999.
(Seal)