FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. A.
Which Council seats will be open for this election?
Two Council seats representing Ward 5 and 7 will be voted on for the 2024 election.
Q.
What are the eligibility requirements for running for a City Council seat?
A. Only registered voters of the City shall be eligible to hold the office of Council member or Mayor. Those elected shall have been qualified electors and residents of their respective wards for a period of at least thirty (30) consecutive days immediately preceding the date of filing their nomination papers for the office. If an elected official moves from their place of residence outside of their respective District or City limits or ceases to be an elector of the City during their term of office, the office of that elected official shall immediately become vacant. (California Government Code [“G.C.”] §36502.)
Q.
What are some City Council responsibilities?
A. Some include participating in State and local committees, Community meetings, Council meetings, and attending various community events as a representative of the City of San Bernardino.
Q.
Is there a filing fee involved in my candidacy?
A. Yes! There is a $25 filing fee for a candidate for municipal office in San Bernardino. A deposit will also be required to cover the cost of printing and the required translation of the Candidate Statement if you choose to file one.
Q. May I change or correct the spelling/wording on my Candidate Statement after it has been submitted? A. No, you may not. Check your Candidate’s Statement carefully before it is submitted. It will be printed exactly as submitted. It can be withdrawn until 5:00 p.m. of the next working day following the close of the filing period, assuming all nomination paper signatures have been verified. Q. Does it cost anything to open a committee and file a Statement of Organization (Form 410)? A. Yes, effective January 1, 2013 (pursuant to SB 1001 (Yee)) all committees required to file the Form 410 must pay a $50“annual” fee to the Secretary of State, the fee must be paid within 15 days of filing the Form 410. The annual fee must be paid no later than January 15 of each year until the committee terminates. If you have questions, please call the Secretary of State’s Office at (916) 6 53-6224.
Q.
May I circulate Vote-By-Mail ballot applications?
A . Yes, an individual, group or organization may distribute applications for Vote-By-Mail ballots. However, applications must use the uniform format approved by the Secretary of State. See the Secretary of State guidelines for distributing Vote-By-Mail Application .
Q.
May I participate in the runoff election as a write-in candidate?
A. No, only those who ran successfully in the Primary Municipal Election can participate in the runoff election to determine a winner.
Q. When officeholders or candidates receive contributions of $2,000 or more, are they required to have a committee? A. Yes, an officeholder or candidate who receives contributions (including loans) that total $2,000 or more in a calendar year must file a Statement of Organization, Form 410. Q. If I am only spending my own money on my campaign, do I still need to file campaign statements? A. Yes, you are still subject to the filing requirements of the Political Reform Act. If you plan to use personal funds to pay for campaign expenses, you should first deposit those funds into a campaign bank account opened for the purpose of your campaign. PLEASE NOTE : The only exception to this is that a candidate MAY use personal funds to pay the cost of their candidate’s statement withou t first depositing those funds into a campaign bank account.
Q.
Must a committee wait until $2,000 is received to file a statement of organization?
A. No, a committee may file a Statement of Organization before it is actually qualified. “Not Yet Qualified” should be entered in the “Date Qualified” space on the form.
Q.
Where can I obtain filing forms?
A. Campaign disclosure forms are available from the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) website at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/; click on “View All Forms”; then click on the appropriate Form and/or Manual.
Q.
May I serve as my own campaign treasurer?
A. Yes, State law allows you to serve as your own treasurer as long as this is designated on Form 410 - Statement of Organization.
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