Chandler is among 19 cities in Arizona that have adopted a city charter, which is essentially a constitution for the city. Chandler voters first approved the city charter in 1965. Over the past 60 years, voters have been asked to consider various amendments to the charter.
Charter cities have the authority to create their own local governance and other specific provisions not available to other "general law" cities that require state legislative authority before exercising power. Charter cities can be preempted by Arizona state law in the same manner as other municipalities if the legislature finds the issue of statewide concern.
Charter Amendment Election
The Chandler City Council has called a charter amendment election on November 4, 2025, for voters to approve or reject the City Council's proposed amendments to the city charter that have been placed on the ballot. The purpose is for voters to decide whether to approve charter amendments regarding term limits for the offices of mayor and councilmembers and the appointment and removal of the city manager.
Proposed Amendments to the Chandler City Charter to be considered by voters include:
Amending Article II, Section 2.01 of the Chandler City Charter regarding the eligibility of a person to serve terms in the offices of councilmember and mayor. Proposed charter amendment language:
Section 2.01. – Composition, eligibility, terms and election.
(a) Composition. There shall be a City Council consisting of a mayor and six councilmembers elected from the city at large by the qualified electors of the city. The term councilmember shall include the mayor except where the mayor is specifically mentioned.
(b) Eligibility. Only qualified electors of the city shall be eligible to hold the office of mayor or councilmember. Each candidate must have been a resident of the city or an annexed area for at least two years immediately preceding his election.
(c) Term of Councilmembers. The term of office of councilmembers shall commence at the first regular meeting of the City Council in January following their election and, except as otherwise provided herein, shall be for a period of four (4) years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
(d) Term of mayor. The term of office of mayor shall commence at the first regular meeting of the City Council in January following the mayor’s election and shall be for a period of four (4) years or until the mayor’s successor is elected and qualified.
(e) Limitation of terms.
- No person shall be eligible to be elected to the office of councilmember for more than two (2) consecutive terms. A person who is elected to two (2) consecutive terms as a councilmember shall not be eligible to hold the office of councilmember again until four (4) years have elapsed since the end of the last term served as a councilmember, except as provided in subsection 2.06(c).
- No person shall be eligible to be elected to the office of mayor for more than two (2) consecutive terms. A person who is elected to two (2) consecutive terms as mayor shall not be eligible to hold the office of mayor again until four (4) years have elapsed since the end of the last term served as mayor, except as provided in subsection 2.06(c).
- No person shall be eligible to be elected to the office of councilmember or mayor after serving sixteen (16) consecutive years of combined service in those offices until four (4) years have elapsed since the end of the last term served, except as provided in subsection 2.06(c).
- No person who has served two (2) four-year terms as councilmember followed by a break in service of two years or less and two (2) four-year terms as mayor shall be eligible to hold the office of mayor or councilmember until at least four (4) years have elapsed since the end of the last term served, except as provided in subsection 2.06(c).
- Councilmembers who resign for any reason other than to run for mayor as required under State Law and this Charter and mayors who resign shall not be eligible for re-election or appointment until the second succeeding city election following the date of tender of their written resignation except as provided in subsection 2.06 (c).
- Elected or appointed terms of less than four (4) years as councilmember or mayor shall not be counted in the above time limitations.
(f) Elections. Elections for mayor and councilmember shall be held as provided in article VII of this Charter.
Amending Article III, Sections 3.01 and 3.02 of the Chandler City Charter regarding the appointment and removal of the city manager.
Section 3.01 – Appointment, compensation, qualifications.
The Council shall appoint a city manager to serve at the pleasure of the Council. The manager shall be appointed solely on the basis of his executive and administrative qualifications.
Section 3.02. - Removal of city manager.
The city manager may be removed with or without cause at any public meeting by a majority vote of all members of the City Council. In the event of removal the manager will receive severance pay as agreed to by the council and city manager.
When the office of city manager becomes vacant, the Council shall there upon appoint an acting city manager who shall serve at the pleasure of the Council until a city manager is appointed.