We hope that this information will serve as a guide for eligible candidates who may be interested in running for office in the City of Sonoma.
ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible to run for office in the City of Sonoma you must:
- Be 18 years of age. (CA Gov. Code § 1020)
- Be a registered voter in the City of Sonoma 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 Sonoma through the Sonoma County Elections Office. If you are unsure whether you live in the City of Sonoma or Unincorporated Sonoma you can contact our Planning Department at (707) 938-3681 or Planning@sonomacity.org.
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 will give you 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, please email (preferred method) the City Clerk Rebekah Barr at rbarr@sonomacity.org or call (707) 933-2216.
What to Expect During your Appointment
During your meeting with the City Clerk, you will be given a Candidate’s Handbook containing 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 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.