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Home My WebLink About2012 Candidate Handbook without FS106 - updated 6-22-2012 1 Information in This Handbook is Supplemental to State of Florida Election Laws We have provided the following publications in the handbook:  2011 Chapter 106 Florida Statutes  Florida Commission On Ethics “Guide To The Sunshine Amendment And Code Of Ethics For Public Officers And Employees” Brochure Other Florida Division of Elections publication links listed below can be downloaded from the Internet:  2012 Florida Division of Elections Candidate and Campaign Treasurer Handbook (use this as a guide but please use the dates provided by the City) http://election.dos.state.fl.us/publications/pdf/2011/2012_Candidate_and_Campaign_Tr easurer%20Handbook.pdf Compilation of Election Laws http://election.dos.state.fl.us/publications/pdf/2011/2011ElectionLaws_9-20-2011.pdf If you are unable to access the internet, these publications can be printed and provided to you upon request. ---PLEASE FAMILIARIZE YOURSELVES WITH FLORIDA STATUTES--- THESE PUBLICATIONS ARE PROVIDED FOR GENERAL ELECTION LAW INFORMATION For Further Information Contact: Sally A. Maio, MMC City Clerk City Of Sebastian 1225 Main Street Sebastian, FL 32958 (772) 388-8214 smaio@cityofsebastian.org 2 GENERAL ELECTION INFORMATION  Election day Is the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November (next election is November 6, 2012) (Charter 2.03)  Sebastian City Council consists of five members (Charter 2.01)  City Council Members serve two year terms (Charter 2.04)  Two (2) two-year City Council seats are filled in even-numbered years and three (3) two-year Council seats are filled in odd-numbered years (Charter 2.03). At the 2012 election we will fill two City Council seats.  City Council seats are at-large (Charter 2.01)  City Council candidates must be qualified electors in the City and have actually continually resided in the City for a period of one year Immediately preceding the final date for qualification (Charter 2.02) (final date for qualifying is 9/7 /12 so you must have been a City resident as of 9/7/11)  City Council terms commence immediately prior to the first regularly scheduled City Council meeting following certification of the election results (Charter 2.04) (November 14, 2012 if results are received from County Canvassing Board)  Mayor and Vice Mayor are elected by City Council each year from among its members at the first scheduled meeting subsequent to the election (Charter 2.06) (November 14, 2012) CITY OF SEBASTIAN POLLING PLACES: Precinct Location 7 St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 13075 U.S. 1, Sebastian 8 American Legion Hall, 807 Louisiana Avenue, Sebastian 9 Sebastian Elks Lodge No. 2714, 731 South Fleming Street, Sebastian 10 Sebastian Christian Church, 190 Day Drive, Sebastian *Polling Places are established by the Supervisor of Elections for Indian River County and subject to change. Please contact the SOE office for questions in regard to voting, voter registration, precincts, polling places, abstentee voting and early voting at 226- 3440 or visit www.voteindianriver.com. That office will not field questions regarding running for office in Sebastian. Those questions should be directed to the City Clerk. 3 Becoming A Candidate For Sebastian City Council What Is A Candidate? Florida Statutes 106.011 (16) Defines a candidate as a person to whom any one or more of the following applies: 1. Seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of the petitioning process. 2. Seeks to qualify for election as a write-in candidate. (write-ins are not provided for in Sebastian elections) 3. Receives contributions or makes expenditures, or gives consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bringing about his or her nomination or election to, or retention in, public office. 4. Appoints a campaign treasurer and designates a primary depository. 5. Files qualifying papers and subscribes to a candidate’s oath as required by law. Who Can Be A Candidate? 1. City Charter 2.02 Eligibility States, “No Person Shall Be Eligible To Hold The Office Of Council Member Unless He Or She Is A Qualified Elector In The City And Actually Continually Resided In The City For A Period Of One (1) Year Immediately Preceding The Final Date For Qualification As A Candidate For Said Office.” (Qualified Elector means you are currently registered to vote in Indian River County) 2. Person must not be holding another elective or appointive office, whether state, county, or municipal, the term of which, or any part thereof, runs concurrently with each other, without resigning from the office he or she presently holds. This would not apply to municipal committees for which there is no pay. (See FS 99.012 for further provision) 3. City Code states “No person shall serve on more than one city board or permanent committee simultaneously.” Election to City Council would result in automatic removal from any City board or permanent committee. When May I Announce My Candidacy? 1. If you are a qualified elector and will have continually resided in the City for one year prior to the final date of qualifying, you are eligible to run. (final qualifying date is 9/7/12) 2. You may discuss your candidacy at any time; however, you are considered an “Announced” candidate when your qualifying officer (City Clerk) receives your Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository - Form DS-DE9. You Need To File This Form Before You Accept Any Campaign Contributions Or Make Any Campaign Expenditures (Including Your Qualifying Fee). Your Campaign Bank Account Cannot Be Opened Until You Have Filed This Form. 3. Florida Statutes 106.023 requires that, within ten (10) days of filing the appointment of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository, you file a statement of candidate (DS-DE 84) stating that you have received access to Chapter 106, Florida Statutes. A copy of Chapter 106 and the DS-DE 84 form are included in this packet. 4. You must also sign the City eligibility form as well so that I know you are qualified to run for election in accordance with the City Charter, which means you are a registered elector and established residency in Sebastian no later than 9/7/11. 5. Potential candidates may wait until the official City qualifying period which runs from August 23, 2012 through September 7, 2012 to submit all forms and fees. 4 2012 ELECTION CALENDAR January 10, 2012 Q4 Quarterly report due for anyone who pre-qualified prior to December 31, 2011 (reporting period date of pre-qualification through 12/31/11) April 10, 2012 Q1 Quarterly report due for anyone who pre-qualified prior to March 31, 2012 (reporting period 1/1/12 through 3/31/12) July 10, 2012 Q2 Quarterly report due for anyone who pre-qualified prior to June 30, 2012 (reporting period 4/1/12 through 6/30/12) July 27, 2012 1st General Election Advertisement (FS 100.021) August 10, 2012 2nd General Election Advertisement (FS 100.021) August 23, 2012 1st Day to Officially Qualify For Office (Ch 4.02) 1st Day Political Signs can be posted in accordance with LDC – (75 days prior) September 7, 2012 Last Day to Officially Qualify For Office (Charter 4.02) September 21, 2012 46th day G1 Campaign Treasurer’s Report Due by 5 pm (reporting period from 1st day of qualifying through 9/14/12 – if you pre-qualified before the end of June this reporting period starts on July 1st – if you pre-qualified after July 1st and before the start of the regular qualifying period, your reporting period starts on the day you pre-qualified - because this is a City furlough day, reports can either be mailed with mailing receipt and postmarked on or before midnight of 9/21/12 or hand delivered on or before Thursday, September 20th ) October 5, 2012 32nd day G2 campaign Treasurer’s Report Due by 5 pm (FS 106.07) (reporting period 9/15/12 through 9/28/12) October 19, 2012 18th day G3 Campaign Treasurer’s Report Due by 5 pm (FS 106.07) – (reporting period 9/29/12 through 10/12/12) October 27, 2012 Early Voting starts at Old Schoolhouse and SOE Office – runs through 11/3/12 – 8 am to 4:30 pm each day November 2, 2012 4th Day G4 Campaign Treasurer’s Report Due by 5 pm (FS 106.07) – (reporting period 10/13/12 through 11/1/12 – contributions to be taken only up to midnight on 11/1/12 – FS 106.08) November 3, 2012 Last Day for Voting at Old Schoolhouse and SOE Main Office November 6, 2012 ELECTION DAY (Charter 2.03) November 14, 2012 Regular City Council Meeting – Swearing in of Newly Elected Officials if Results Have Been Certified by County Canvassing Board February 4, 2013 Surplus Funds Must Have Been Disposed/Final Report TR Due (FS 106.141) 10 ELECTION QUALIFYING DOCUMENTS The following are forms to be filled out and submitted during the official qualifying period August 23rd through September 7th  Form DS-DE9 “Appointment Of Campaign Treasurer And Designation Of Campaign Depository For Candidates” (10/10)  Form DS-DE 25 “Candidate Oath Non-Partisan Office ” (5/11)  Form DS-DE 84 “Statement Of Candidate” (5/11) (Received access to Chapter 106 FS) (Must be filed within 10 days of candidate filing appointment of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository [106.023 FS] - See form DS-DE9 above)  Eligibility To Hold Office Oath Form (Section 2.02 Charter) (to show eligibility to run for office in accordance with the City Charter requirement that you be a registered voter and have actually continually resided in the City for a period of one year preceding the final day of qualifying for office)  Form 1 “Statement Of Financial Interests” The following forms are held by the candidate until the appropriate reporting periods (Please refer to reporting schedules in this handbook)  Form DS-DE 12 “Campaign Treasurer’s Report Summary” (Contributions DS-DE 13 and Expenditures DS-DE 14 forms attached) (Four sets of each)  Form DS-DE 87 – “Waiver of Report” – if you do not have activity in a reporting period you can simply file this form – but you next full report will include all information dating back to the last full report  Form DS-DE 2 – “Contributions Returned” – in the event someone gives you a contribution you do not wish to keep and return prior to depositing you need to fill out this form and submit it for the reporting period in which it occurred. The following are forms to be filled out and submitted if you choose to pre- qualify before the official qualifying period  Form DS-DE9 “Appointment Of Campaign Treasurer And Designation Of Campaign Depository For Candidates”  Form DS-DE 84 “Statement Of Candidate” (Received access to Chapter 106 FS) (Must be filed within 10 days of candidate filing appointment of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository [106.023 FS] - See form DS-DE9 above)  Eligibility To Hold Office Oath Form (Section 2.02 Charter) (to show eligibility to run for office in accordance with the City Charter requirement that you be a registered voter and have actually continually resided in the City for a period of one year preceding the final day of qualifying for office which is September 7, 2012) Remaining forms are submitted during the official qualifying period along with qualifying fees.