Santa Monica’s election season is officially underway with applications for elected office now available from the City Clerk.
Candidates for elected offices, including Council, Rent Control Board, School Board and SMC Board, can only be nominated during the Nomination Period, which runs from the 113th day to the 88th day before the municipal election.
This year, nominations open on Monday, July 15 and are scheduled to run through August 9. That date may be extended through August 14 for a specific office if at least one incumbent in that office declines to run for reelection. Eligible candidates must be US citizens, at least 18 years old on or before Election Day, and registered voters in the jurisdiction when Nomination Papers are issued.
The first opportunity to pull papers will be at a Candidate Workshop on July 15 at 10 a.m. in City Hall Council Chamber (Room 250). Individuals who cannot make the meeting can make appointments with city staff to receive their paperwork.
Candidates must establish a Campaign Committee to raise or spend money in support of their election. This requires filing a Statement of Organization (Form 410) with the Secretary of State and setting up an electronic filing account through the City Clerk’s Office. Specific contribution limitations apply to City Council or Rent Control Board candidates.
Candidates need at least 100 valid signatures from registered voters in their jurisdiction to qualify for the ballot. A filing fee is also required, along with a fee for submitting a Candidate Statement for the Sample Ballot. A surcharge applies to debit/credit card transactions.
After the Nomination Period, elected candidates with Campaign Committees must file semi-annual statements until the Committee is terminated. Specific laws such as the Taxpayer Protection law and Levine Act apply to winning Council or Rent Board candidates. All elected officials must file annual Statements of Economic Interest or Conflict of Interest Statements (Form 700) and complete mandatory ethics training (Ethics AB1234).
Individuals who fail to file during the Nomination Period can still qualify for the election as write-in candidates if they file the required paperwork by October 22.