4.12.080 Candidate advocacy statements.
A. At the time of filing a declaration of candidacy or up to two business days after the deadline for filing a declaration of candidacy, a candidate may submit a statement advocating for that candidate’s election.
B. Compliant candidate advocacy statements submitted by qualified candidates appearing on the ballot will be posted on the city website before the election for which the statement has been submitted. The clerk may also distribute the statements by electronic or U.S. mail or make the statements available in hard copy at the clerk’s office.
C. The following rules shall apply to a candidate advocacy statement:
1. The statement shall not exceed 250 words or numbers. If the statement exceeds 250 words or numbers, the city shall post only the first 250 words and numbers contained in the statement.
2. The city is not responsible for the content or accuracy of the statement nor communicating any error in the statement to the candidate.
3. Statements shall comply with requirements contained in the candidate advocacy statement submission instructions adopted by the city clerk and available at the clerk’s office.
D. Candidates may submit one photograph of the candidate with their candidate advocacy statement. A photograph will be posted on the city website with the candidate advocacy statement with which it was submitted if:
1. The photograph shows only the face, neck, and shoulders of the candidate; and
2. Complies with requirements in the candidate advocacy statement submission instructions adopted by the city clerk and available at the clerk’s office.
E. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the deadline for amending or withdrawing a candidate advocacy statement or photograph shall be the same as the deadline for withdrawing a declaration of candidacy. Requests to withdraw or amend an advocacy statement or photograph must be submitted to the clerk in writing. A request to amend a candidate advocacy statement or photograph must include the amended statement or photograph.
F. The city will not correct, amend or in any way alter the content of a candidate advocacy statement or photograph submitted to it.
G. A candidate advocacy statement or photograph that does not conform with the requirements of this section shall be rejected by the clerk. The clerk shall notify a candidate of the rejection and reasons for it in writing. Candidates shall have seven business days from the date of the notice of rejection to submit a corrected and compliant candidate advocacy statement and/or photograph.
H. No new, corrected or amended candidate advocacy statements or photographs shall be accepted or posted after election day. (Ord. 23-17 § 2, 2023)