§ 1. Election, term, etc.; Deputy Comptroller; Staff.

(a) Election and qualifications; Term; Salary; Term limit.

(1) The voters of Baltimore City shall elect a Comptroller of the City on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November 2016, and on the same day and month in every succeeding fourth year.

(2) The Comptroller shall possess the same qualifications as prescribed in this Charter for the Mayor.

(3) The term of the Comptroller shall commence on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in December succeeding the election and shall continue for 4 years and until a successor has been elected and qualified.

(4) The Comptroller's salary shall be set as provided in Article VII, §§ 117 through 125 of this Charter.

(5) A Comptroller shall not hold office for more than 2 consecutive full terms of office and in no event shall hold the office for more than 8 years during any12 year period. This provision shall not preclude an elected Comptroller from seeking other elected offices within Baltimore City after two consecutive terms as Comptroller. In the event that an elected Comptroller takes office as a result of a removal or vacancy described in § 2 of this Article, that elected Comptroller shall only be eligible to hold that office for the remainder of the predecessor's unexpired term and 1 consecutive full term thereafter.

(b) Deputy; Staff.

The Comptroller shall appoint, to aid in the discharge of the Comptroller's duties, a Deputy Comptroller and such other employees as provided in the Ordinance of Estimates. In case of temporary absence or disqualification of the Comptroller, the Deputy Comptroller shall, during such absence or disqualification from any cause, perform the duties of the Comptroller, including the Comptroller's duties as a member of the Board of Estimates.