Section 302.08. Electing of county commissioners at large in alternative form

(A) Under all alternative forms of county government whereby the entire board of county commissioners is elected at large there shall be a board of county commissioners who shall have the qualifications and shall be nominated and elected as provided by general law, except as otherwise provided for in this section.

(B) The board shall consist of such number of members as shall be determined by inclusion of one of the following optional provisions in the alternative form adopted pursuant to section 302.03 of the Revised Code:

Option A. Three members.

Option B. Five members.

Option C. Seven members.

Option D. Nine members.

If the electors of a county approve a proposition to adopt an alternative form of county government under section 302.06 of the Revised Code, and thereby adopt a different size of the board of county commissioners, the change in membership shall be effected as follows:

(1) Whenever the number of members of the board is increased, there shall be elected at the regular state election next following the adoptions of such provision, a sufficient number of county commissioners to bring the total membership of the board up to the number fixed. County commissioners shall serve a term of four years, except the candidates first elected under the provisions of this section.

(2) Whenever the number of members of the board is decreased, the optional provision adopted under division (B) of this section shall be effective as to half the number by which the size of the board is decreased on the first Monday in January following the next regular state election and as to the other half on the first Monday in January two years later.

(C) The term of office of county commissioners shall be for four years, except as provided in division (C) of this section. If the alternative form as adopted provides for no change in size of the board of county commissioners, county commissioners shall continue to be elected for four-year terms.

If the alternative form as adopted provides for an increased membership on the board of county commissioners as provided by one of the optional provisions B, C, or D of division (B) of this section, the additional members shall be elected to the board at the first regular state election subsequent to the adoption of the alternative form.

If the first election under an alternative form of county government provided for in sections 302.01 to 302.24, inclusive, of the Revised Code, occurs in a year in which one county commissioner is to be elected under section 305.01 of the Revised Code, and the alternative form as adopted provides for an expansion of the board to five, seven, or nine commissioners, the required number of vacancies shall be filled as follows:

(1) If the new board is to be a five-man board, three commissioners shall be elected for four-year terms.

(2) If the new board is to be a seven-man board, five commissioners shall be elected, four commissioners for four-year terms and one commissioner for a two-year term; the four candidates receiving the most votes being awarded the four-year terms and the fifth candidate in terms of votes received being assigned the two-year term.

(3) If the new board is to be a nine-man board, seven commissioners shall be elected, five commissioners for four-year terms and two commissioners for two-year terms; the five candidates receiving the most votes being awarded the four-year terms and the two-year terms being assigned to the next two candidates in terms of votes received.

If the first election under an alternative form of county government provided for in sections 302.01 to 302.24, inclusive, of the Revised Code, occurs in a year in which two county commissioners are to be elected under section 305.01 of the Revised Code, and the alternative form as adopted provides for an expansion of the board to five, seven, or nine commissioners, the required number of vacancies shall be filled as follows:

(a) If the new board is to be a five-man board, four commissioners shall be elected, three commissioners for four-year terms and one commissioner for a two-year term; the three candidates receiving the most votes being awarded the four-year terms and the fourth candidate in terms of votes received being assigned the two-year term.

(b) If the new board is to be a seven-man board, six commissioners shall be elected, four commissioners for four-year terms and two commissioners for two-year terms; the four candidates receiving the most votes being awarded the four-year terms and the two-year terms being assigned to the next two candidates in terms of votes received.

(c) If the new board is to be a nine-man board, eight commissioners shall be elected, five commissioners for four-year terms and three commissioners for two-year terms; the five candidates receiving the most votes being awarded the four-year terms and the two-year terms being assigned to the next three candidates in terms of votes received.

At all succeeding elections, after the first regular state election subsequent to adoption of an alternative form, all members of the board of county commissioners shall continue to be elected for four-year terms.

Effective Date: 12-13-1967