Article II — Definitions

Unless a term is specifically defined in this chapter, or the contrary is stated (or clearly appears from the context), the definitions set forth in Chapter 2 ("Definitions" – § 82000 et seq. of the Government Code) of the State Political Reform Act shall govern the interpretation of the provisions of this chapter.

(a) "Election cycle"

• means that period commencing on May 1st of a general election year and concluding on December 31st of that same year. If a special election is conducted, the election cycle shall commence on the first day of the month at least six months before the election and shall conclude on the last day of the month following the election (i.e., assume a March date is used for a City special election for an elective office; September 1st (the first day of the month at least six months before the election date) would be the first day of the election cycle and April 30th (the last day of the month following the election) would be the last day of the election cycle).

(b) "Campaign literature"

• means any communication which meets the following criteria: (1) it is distributed during the campaign cycle, (2) it identifies the candidate (even if the fact of candidacy is not mentioned in the communication, it is deemed that there is a valuable benefit to the candidate gained by the name recognition generated through the distribution of a communication during a campaign cycle), and (3) the candidate (and/or the candidate's campaign committee) has paid for at least fifteen percent (15%) of the cost of preparation and/or distribution inclusion of the communication. The candidate's cost for the campaign literature shall be identified and accounted for as a campaign expense.

(c) The term "office" means the offices of Mayor, City Council, Chief of Police and City Clerk. (Ord. 1745 § 2, 1-11-2000; Ord. 1788 §§ 2, 3, 2004; Ord. 1835 § 1, 4-15-2008; Ord. 1924 § 1, 4-222014)