City Elections
November 3, 2020 Election - City Council Candidates
Municipal elections in East Palo Alto are scheduled on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even-numbered years, to coincide with the Statewide General Election. On November 3, 2020 the City will hold an election for (3) three seats on the City Council.
Potential candidates who are issued nomination papers and qualified candidates will be listed on this page.
CANDIDATE INTENTION STATEMENT (FORM 501) FILED
RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL
Any member of the public who meets the requirements below may run for public office in the City of East Palo Alto
Be at least eighteen years of age
Be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of California
Be a registered voter of the City of East Palo Alto
CANDIDATE FILING PERIOD
The filing period for candidates and measures is between July 13, 2020 and August 7, 2020. Paperwork must be received by the close of business on August 7, 2020. Exception: If an incumbent does not file for reelection, the filing deadline for non-incumbents is extended until 5:00 p.m. on August 12, 2020. Candidates must obtain and complete the official nomination documents issued by the Office of the City Clerk during the official nomination period.
To request nomination documents, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at 650-853-3100 or email Walfred Solorzano. Due to COVID-19 considerations, it is preferred that documents are issued by mail or email, and reviewed via video conference.
Prior to soliciting or receiving contributions, candidates must complete the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Form 501 - Candidate Statement of Intention. This form can be completed before official nomination papers are issued or filed. Filed forms will be posted on this web page.
RESOURCES FOR CANDIDATES
RSVP to attend San Mateo County Candidate Seminars - conducted online via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, July 23 at 2 p.m.
San Mateo County: Candidates and Campaigns
Fair Political Practices Commission: Getting Started
Candidates & Resource Information
IMPORTANT FORMS
Candidates MUST file Form 501 before soliciting or accepting contributions.
Candidates MUST deposit funds into the campaign bank account before spending money on the campaign. Candidates who spend money out of pocket for campaign expenses are subject to fines.
Before beginning your campaign, you must declare which office you are seeking. You must also set up and register your committee, and disclose information about your personal income and assets. To get your campaign started, complete and submit the forms noted below. See form instructions for information on how to complete the forms and where to file them.
Basic Campaign Filing Deadlines for Candidates
Form 501 - Candidate Intention Statement
Form 410 - Statement of Organization
Form 460 - Recipient Committee Campaign Statement
Form 470 - Officeholder/Candidate Campaign Statement
Form 700 - Statement of Economic Interests
Committee ID Number
Once you have submitted your Form 410 to the Secretary of State (SOS), you can visit their website to find your committee ID number. Enter the name of your committee in the search bar of the Cal-Access database. If your ID number has been issued, the search results will show it next to your comittee name. If the system cannot find your ID number, the SOS may not have had time to issue it yet, or there was an error on the Form 410 and they have sent you a letter via USPS asking you to correct the error and re-submit the form.
If you would like to receive a copy of your approved Form 410 from the Secretary of State, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your original Form 410.
Filing Deadlines
Throughout the campaign, you must file statements to report contributions and expenditures. Find the filing schedule for your campaign on our website.
This toolkit provides guidance and a general overview of the rules for campaigns, but it does not replace any requirements under the Political Reform Act or Fair Political Practices Commission Regulations. Information here should be used in conjunction with a careful review of the applicable laws.
