The Ito city assembly in Shizuoka Prefecture has passed a second no-confidence resolution against Mayor Maki Takubo over allegations including falsification of academic credentials. After being removed from office, Takubo has yet to announce whether she will run in the upcoming mayoral election to choose her successor.

If she decides to run for reelection after being issued two "severance letters" by the city council, it can only be described as showing disregard for the people's will. Such actions could also risk rendering the no-confidence resolution system under the Local Autonomy Act a mere formality.

Takubo, who took office in May, was first hit with a no-confidence resolution by city council in September over allegations that she falsely claimed to have graduated from Toyo University's Faculty of Law. Having failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, she should have resigned at that point.

Instead, Takubo dissolved the body. In the subsequent election, only one candidate supporting Takubo won a seat. Under the law, a mayor who receives a second no-confidence resolution at the first assembly meeting after a dissolution cannot dissolve the city council again and is removed from office.

Ordinarily, this would be the point at which the turmoil ends. However, if Takubo decides to run for mayor again, it would raise serious concerns.

After the first no-confidence motion, Takubo could have chosen to resign and run in the subsequent mayoral poll. By dissolving the chamber instead, she effectively sought to confirm public support through the city council election.

If she ignores that outcome, it will amount to disregarding not only the council but also the city's residents themselves.

Should Takubo run and win, the issue of her academic credentials would remain unresolved. The assembly and mayor would likely continue to clash over issues unrelated to city administration, prolonging the confusion.

The recent city council election reportedly cost more than 60 million yen (approx. $390,000). With a mayoral election now required as well, Takubo must recognize her responsibility for forcing the city to hold two costly elections.

No-confidence resolutions by local assemblies require a higher quorum and stricter approval requirements than other deliberative bodies. As an exception to the dual representation system, in which both the mayor and council members are directly elected by residents, the passage of such a resolution carries significant weight.

Earlier this year in Kishiwada, Osaka Prefecture, a mayor who was removed from office after two no-confidence votes also ran in the resulting mayoral election and was defeated.

The law assumes that a mayor who is removed from office after a second no-confidence vote will step aside. If such disregard for the system continues, it may become necessary to consider restrictions on candidacy in these cases.