The nomination period for City Council candidates has begun
On July 15, the nomination period for people who want to run for office in the City of Sonoma began, and it will continue until Friday, August 9, 2024.
In order to be eligible to run for City Council, people must be at least 18 years of age, be a registered voter in the City of Sonoma when nomination papers are issues, and not be disqualified from holding office by the Constitution or laws of the State of California.
Confirmation of being a registered voter in the City of Sonoma can be obtained through the Sonoma County Elections Office. If unsure whether they live in the City of Sonoma or Unincorporated Sonoma those interested can contact the city’s Planning Department at (707) 938-3681 or [email protected].
NOMINATION PERIOD & PROCESS
The nomination period is when individuals officially receive, circulate, and file nomination papers for candidacy.
- The Nomination period for the November 2024 General Municipal Election begins on July 15, 2024, and closes on Friday, August 9, 2024. Per the elections code, the nomination period may be extended for candidates until 5pm on August 14, 2024, if a qualified incumbent does not file nomination papers to re-run for their current seat before the regular nomination period deadline of August 9, 2024, at 5pm.
- Filing nomination papers early permits substantial time to ensure all legal requirements are met. Contact the City Clerk’s Office to schedule an appointment to begin the process. The appointment takes approximately forty-five minutes.
Getting Started
The following steps provide an overview of how to get started on becoming a candidate for City Council.
- Review the Fair and Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Campaign Disclosure Manual 2. This manual provides important information on campaign disclosure rules and requirements under the Political Reform Act.
- Review the City of Sonoma’s Campaign Finance Regulations.
- Decide if you will expend funds or accept funds for your campaign; this will change the forms you are required to file.
- File FPPC Form 501 (Candidate Intention Statement) with the Sonoma City Clerk. This form must be filed before candidates can solicit or accept campaign contributions.
- Schedule an appointment to pick up Nomination Papers from the City Clerk’s Office (1 The Plaza, Sonoma) starting at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2024.
To schedule an appointment to obtain and file nomination papers, email (preferred method) the City Clerk Rebekah Barr at [email protected] or call (707) 933-2216.
At a meeting with the City Clerk, potential candidates will be given a Candidate’s Handbook containing useful information and regulations regarding your campaign. They will also receive the following documents to complete onsite or to be filed before the end of the nomination period:
- Nomination Petition – It’s required to obtain the signatures of a minimum of 20, maximum of 30, registered voters within the City of Sonoma, on your nomination papers.
- Certificate of Residency
- Ballot Designation Worksheet
- Candidate’s Statement of Qualifications Form *
- Form 700, Statement of Economic Interests
- Code of Fair Campaign Practices
- Form 501, Candidate Intention Statement
- Form 410, Committee Organization Statement
*Filing a Candidate’s Statement of Qualifications to be printed in the sample ballot is optional. Candidates who choose to file a statement must bear the actual cost of printing and distribution. Payment for the estimated cost is due at the time of filing nomination papers.
