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A.(1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the governing authority of any municipality with a population of not more than one thousand persons according to the latest federal decennial census and which holds municipal elections at the same time as the 2004 congressional election as provided by La. Rev. Stat. 18:402(B), may, by ordinance, adopt a plan for holding municipal elections at the gubernatorial election in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. 18:402(A).  No such plan shall be revocable by the governing authority of the municipality.

(2)  Any plan adopted pursuant to this Section shall be filed with the secretary of state not less than one year prior to the opening of the qualifying period for the gubernatorial primary election at which municipal officers shall be elected initially under the plan.  The first such election under the plan shall be held at the 2007 gubernatorial election.

(3)  Any municipality that complies with the provisions of this Subsection may hold its municipal elections at the gubernatorial election in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. 18:402(A).

B.  The officers elected under the plan shall take office on the first day of January following their election and shall hold their office for four years.  The municipal officers of a municipality that complies with Subsection A of this Section who are elected at municipal elections held at the same time as the 2004 congressional election, as provided by La. Rev. Stat. 18:402(B), shall serve until their successors elected under the plan take office on January 1, 2008.

C.  If no election is held on the day authorized by the plan adopted by a municipality or if a vacancy in any municipal office elective by the people occurs or if an officer elected fails to qualify, such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of La. Const. Art. VI, § 13 or as otherwise provided by law.

D.  Any vacancy in a municipal office to which the officer is elected or appointed by the mayor and board of aldermen may be filled for the term by the mayor and board of aldermen at any regular or special meeting.

Acts 2003, No. 693, §1.