Government

Odessa operates under a charter providing for a Council-Manager form of government. The Council consists of the mayor and five council members serving four-year staggered terms, with five elected from single-member districts. The Council is responsible for appointment of the city manager, municipal judges, city attorney, city secretary and boards, and legislative policy making. The chief administrative officer of the city government is the city manager.

Ector County is governed by a Commissioners Court consisting of a county judge elected at-large, and four County Commissioners elected by precinct, all serving four-year staggered terms. The Commissioners Court sets the county ad valorem property tax rate and assessment ratio.