1997 Senate Joint Resolution 43
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
To amend section (4) (1), (3) and (5) of article VI; and to create section 4 (6) of article VI of the constitution; relating to: 4-year terms of office for, appointment of, vacancies in the offices of, and the restriction on holding any other office by, sheriffs (2nd consideration).
Whereas, the 1995 legislature in regular session proposed an amendment to the constitution in 1995 Assembly Joint Resolution 37, which became Enrolled Joint Resolution 23, and agreed to it by a majority of the members elected to each of the 2 houses, which proposed amendment reads as follows:
SJR43, s. 1
Section
1. Section 4 (1), (3) and (5) of article VI of the constitution are amended to read:
[Article VI] Section 4 (1) Sheriffs Except as provided in sub. (2), coroners, registers of deeds, district attorneys, and all other elected county officers except judicial officers, sheriffs and chief executive officers, shall be chosen by the electors of the respective counties once in every 2 years.
(3) (a) Sheriffs shall may not hold no any other partisan office.
(b) Sheriffs may be required by law to renew their security from time to time, and in default of giving such new security their office shall be deemed vacant.
(c) Beginning with the first general election at which the governor is elected which occurs after the ratification of this paragraph, sheriffs shall be chosen by the electors of the respective counties once in every 4 years.
(5) All vacancies in the offices of sheriff, coroner, register of deeds or district attorney shall be filled by appointment. The person appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office only for the unexpired portion of the term to which appointed and until a successor shall be elected and qualified.
SJR43, s. 2
Section
2. Section 4 (6) of article VI of the constitution is created to read:
[Article VI] Section 4 (6) When a vacancy occurs in the office of sheriff, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the governor, and the person appointed shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the foregoing proposed amendment to the constitution is agreed to by the 1997 legislature; and, be it further
Resolved, That the foregoing proposed amendment to the constitution be submitted to a vote of the people at the general election to be held on November 3, 1998; and, be it further
Resolved, That the question concerning ratification of the foregoing proposed amendment to the constitution be stated on the ballot as follows:
Question 1: Terms of office for, appointment of, vacancies in the offices of, and the restriction on holding any other office by, sheriffs. Shall section 4 (1), (3) and (5) of article VI of the constitution be amended and section 4 (6) of article VI of the constitution be created to extend the terms of office of sheriffs from 2 years to 4 years, to allow sheriffs to hold nonpartisan offices, and to require that vacancies in the office of sheriffs be filled by appointment of the governor until a successor is elected and qualified?
