DE SB165

Increases the term length for the Mayor of Dover from 2 years to 4 years, effective after the April 2012 election, with the April 2012-elected mayor serving an initial 3-year term until May 2015.

Increases the term length for City Council members from 2 years to 4 years, with council members elected in April 2012 serving an initial 3-year term and those elected in April 2013 and thereafter serving 4-year terms.

Changes municipal elections from annual to biennial (every 2 years), held on the third Tuesday in April, with the mayor and at-large councilman elected in alternating elections.

Maintains the 9-member city council structure composed of 4 district-elected councilmen and 1 at-large councilman, elected in alternating biennial elections, with 4 district-only councilmen elected in other biennial elections.

Updates nomination petition filing deadlines to reflect biennial election schedule, with council candidates filing by the second Friday in February and mayoral candidates filing by the last working day in January, both in election years.