Texas Municipal League
1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400, Austin, Texas 78754-5101
Copyright ©, Texas Municipal League, 2013
All materials are subject to copyrights owned by the Texas Municipal League (TML). Any reproduction, retransmission, or republication
of all or part of this document is expressly prohibited, unless TML has expressly granted its prior written consent to so reproduce,
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Foreword
Serving as a local elected official is one of the most demanding—and often thankless—tasks a citizen can perform.
Municipal officials can be called upon day and night. They are subject to constant criticism, and almost everything
they do will be wrong in someone’s opinion. Many spend their own money to campaign for election; most receive
little, if any, pay for the job.
But serving in local office can also be rewarding and productive. For many, it is more important than being in Congress
or the state legislature, because the city is the real world where municipal officials can make good things happen for
their fellow citizens.
We hope this handbook will offer a few suggestions that will make your job easier. Obviously, such a guide cannot
possibly touch upon every relevant subject, but it does include what we think are the most important topics. Throughout, however, it should be recognized that this handbook is only a guide and that there is no substitute for competent
legal advice regarding interpretations of the law and other questions that might arise in specific situations.
If you don’t find the answers to your questions about the part of city government you are covering or the issues facing
cities today, we’re ready to assist you in any way we can. Just give us a call at 512-231-7400, email us at
[email protected], or visit our website at www.tml.org.
We wish you great success.
Bennett Sandlin
Executive Director
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