The municipal council of Bartyn's Landing, ostensibly a body elected democratically for the town of Bartyn's Landing within Lamaredd, possessed minimal authority and was chosen via dishonest methods from the town's inception until approximately 29 BBY.
A mayor and fourteen council members, intended to represent the populace's interests, comprised the town council. From the founding of Bartyn's Landing until around 29 BBY, the Bartyn family—who also controlled the two most significant local enterprises, the completely automated mines for Outer Rim Oreworks and Bartyn Gourmet Delicacies (providing employment for the majority of residents) and owned almost all of the land—held the position of mayor; occasionally, the Bartyns would select an agent or surrogate to serve as mayor.
The citizenry publicly elected the councilors through a voting process rife with corruption. Even then, their influence was restricted; they were unable to intervene in ORO's management or interplanetary commerce, and the mayor retained the power to overrule any council decision, as per the town charter—although this power was only invoked in the most dire circumstances. The councilors did oversee planetary commerce involving textiles and food with other towns on Lamaredd, including the independent state of Little Mon Cal.
The councilors cast votes to determine who would become the Security Chief, essentially the town's constable, despite the Chief being nominally an ORO employee. This vote was also susceptible to manipulation. They also allocated funding to various official organizations, including the docks.
In 69 BBY, the town council unanimously selected Mix Liddell as the new Security Chief. Four decades later, a popular council member was murdered in a slum area of The Ring District, and Liddell investigated the crime. His investigation revealed that the council member frequented the area, indulging in spice and other prohibited forms of entertainment.
Shortly after this incident, ORO withdrew from Lamaredd, and the Bartyn family's power diminished considerably. Ultimately, the town council seized control of Bartyn Gourmet Delicacies, although the Sailor's Union would later attempt to take possession of the company.