City News

Want to run for Sebastopol City Council? Nomination Period NOW Open!

July 17, 2024, City News

There is no higher honor than serving the people as an elected official.

Want to run for City Council?

ELIGIBILITY

In order to be eligible to run for office in the City of Sebastopol you must:

• Be 18 years of age. (CA Gov. Code § 1020)
• Be a registered voter in the City of Sebastopol at the time Nomination Papers are issued. (CA Gov. Code § 36502)
• Not disqualified from holding office by the Constitution or laws of the State of California. (CA Gov. Code § 1021)

You can confirm that you are a registered voter in the City of Sebastopol by contacting the Sonoma county Elections Office.

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 Mary Gourley at 707-823-1153 or mgourley@cityofsebastopol.gov to schedule an appointment to begin the process. The appointment takes approximately forty-five minutes. An appointment to pull papers and file paperwork IS REQUIRED.

What to Expect During your Appointment

During your meeting with the City Clerk, you will be given useful information and regulations regarding your campaign. You will also receive the following documents to complete onsite or to be filed before the end of the nomination period:

• Nomination Petition – You will be required to obtain the signatures of a minimum of 20, maximum of 30, registered voters within the City of Sebastopol, 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 (if not yet filed or met the threshold)

*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 ($800). Payment for the estimated cost is due at the time of filing nomination papers.

Visit the Elections & Voting page for more information.