Adelanto Municipal Code Ch. 1.15 Elections

A. General Municipal Election. The general municipal election of the City shall be held on the same day as the statewide general election (i.e., on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in each even-numbered year). All elections within the City shall be held and conducted in accordance with the elections laws of the State pertaining to municipalities as amended from time to time.

B. Consolidation of Elections. The intent of this Section is to reduce the costs of conducting general municipal elections in the City by permitting the consolidation of the general municipal election with another election already to be held on the same date and to be conducted by the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters. In addition, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in voter participation in the general municipal election because of this combination of elections. It is also anticipated that voter convenience will be served. The City Clerk shall request the County Clerk to conduct the municipal election pursuant to the procedures set forth in Elections Code Section 10403 and specify the services to be rendered.

C. Eligibility of Members. A person is eligible to hold office as a member of the City Council or as elected Mayor, if he/she is an elector of the City at the time of assuming office and a registered voter at the time nomination papers are issued.

[Government Code Sections 34882 and 34904.]

A filing fee proportionate to the costs of processing a candidate’s nomination papers, but not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00), is established for candidate’s nomination papers for elective office at municipal elections, to be paid upon the filing of the nomination papers pursuant to the procedures set forth in Elections Code Section 10228.

A. Each candidate for elective office may prepare a candidate’s statement on the form provided by the City Clerk. The candidate’s statement may include the name, age and occupation of the candidate and a brief description of no more than two hundred (200) words, together with the candidate’s education and qualifications expressed by the candidate himself or herself, in accordance with Elections Code Section 13307. The statement shall not include the party affiliation of the candidate, nor membership or activity in partisan political organizations.

B. The candidate’s statement shall be filed in the Office of the City Clerk at the time the candidate’s nomination papers are filed.

C. Each candidate filing a statement shall pay in advance to the City his or her estimated pro rata share of the total cost of printing, handling, translating and mailing the candidate’s statement filed pursuant to Elections Code Section 13307, as a condition of having his or her statement included in the voter’s pamphlet. The City Clerk shall determine the estimated pro rata cost of filing the candidate’s statement, which shall be posted with the City Clerk at the time the candidate’s statement is filed; the written receipt for payment of the estimated amount shall include a written notice that the estimate is just an approximation of the actual cost that varies from one election to another election and may be significantly more or less than the estimate, depending on the actual number of candidates filing statements.

D. The City Clerk shall bill each candidate for additional actual expense or refund any excess paid depending on the final actual cost. In the event of underpayment, the City Clerk shall require the candidate to pay the balance of the cost incurred; in the event of overpayment, the City Clerk shall prorate the excess amount among the candidates and refund the excess amount paid within thirty (30) days of the election.

E. The City will provide an exemption from advance payment of the fee for the candidate’s statement, for candidates who establish indigence in accordance with Elections Code Section 13309. The indigent candidate shall be responsible for payment of the pro rata share of the costs related to printing, translating, handling and mailing of the candidate’s statement. The City Clerk shall bill and collect from any indigent candidate his or her actual pro rata share of the cost after the election.

F. Candidates’ statements may be withdrawn, but not changed, during the period for filing nomination papers, and until 5:00 p.m. the next working day after the close of the nomination period.

G. A written statement of the regulations set forth herein shall be provided to each candidate or his or her representative at the time he or she picks up the nomination papers. Each candidate shall be provided a copy of this Section at the time nomination papers are issued.

Members of the City Council shall be elected by the registered qualified voters of the City, on an at large basis, at general or special municipal elections held for that purpose.

[Charter, Section 501.]

Commencing with the general municipal election held in 2004, the Mayor shall be elected for a term of four (4) years.

[Charter, Section 601(a), amended 11/2/04.]