 Incumbents who have won re-election during the 2015 election under the three-term rule - those who served 2 are granted an additional 4 years while a freshman councilmember are granted their 2 additional terms - this means that some elected officials can hold up to 10 years in office (if a freshman councilmember who served during their 2014-16 term) or 8 years in office (for those elected in 2011 and re-elected to their final term).Houston is considered to be a politically divided city whose balance of power often sways between Republicans and Democrats.All City of Houston elected officials run on non-partisan ballots but may have declared allegiances to a political party.