General Information -Know Your Town

General Information

The Town Secretary serves as the election official for the Town of Shady Shores. Currently, the Town contracts with Denton County Elections to hold its elections. The Town of Shady Shores is a Type A General Law Government with a Council-Mayor form of government. The Mayor and five (5) Alderman are elected at large each year.

For more information or general election questions, please contact the Town Administrator/Secretary Wendy Withers (940) 498-0044. To learn more about State and County Elections visit the Denton County Elections site or the Texas Secretary of State website.

Candidate Officeholder Reports

What makes the Town of Shady Shores a Type A city? 

A city is home rule if it has a charter. It is Type C (general law) if it is governed by a mayor and two commissioners. If the city is not home rule or Type C, it is either Type A or Type B. Type A and Type B general law cities have five aldermen and a mayor. The only way to determine which type a city is, is to obtain a copy of the records of the incorporation election from the county clerk or the city secretary. If a general law city with an alderman form of government has a population of over 600, it is probably (but not absolutely) a Type A City.

The general rule for residence and age requirements is section 141.001(a)(2),(5) of the Election Code.

Any city, whether home rule or general law, that has increased its terms of office to 3 years or 4 years must fill vacancies by a majority vote at a special election within 120 days after the vacancy or vacancies occur; except that a home-rule municipality may provide by charter or charter amendment the procedure for filling a vacancy occurring on its governing body for an unexpired term of 12 months or less. See Art. XI, Sec.11 (as amended) for details.

Filling Vacancies as a Type A City

Type A City (Local Gov’t Code, Section 22.010)

  • Term of office -- 2 years/can opt for up to 4 (Local Gov’t Code, Section 22.035)*
  • Population -- at least 600 (Local Gov’t Code, Section 6.001)
  • One vacancy -- city council may fill vacancy by appointment (majority of remaining members, excluding the mayor, make the appointment) until the next regular city election (at which time office will go on ballot for unexpired term, if any) or call a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.*
  • Two vacancies at same time -- town council must order a special election to fill the vacancies for the remainder of the unexpired term.*
  • A special election ordered to fill these vacancies is governed by Title 12 of Election Code.