How to run for elected office

To run for City Council or School Board, you need to file several nomination documents so your name will appear on the ballot. You also need to file campaign finance reports.

Need to know

  • You can pick up nomination documents starting July 15, 2024
  • Deadline for filing nomination documents is August 9, 2024 at 5pm
  • Campaign finance filings

Before you start

The nomination process can be complicated and filing deadlines are strict. It is a good idea to file your candidate documents early. This way, you usually have enough time to correct any mistakes before the deadline.

Candidate eligibility

To be a candidate, you need to be a registered voter in the City of Piedmont.

If you already served 2 full and consecutive terms, you need to wait before you are eligible again:

  • City Council - eligible again after 8 years
  • Board of Education - eligible again after 4 years

Steps

1. Make an appointment to get your candidate documents.

State law requires us to issue candidate documents in-person. You need to make an appointment with the City Clerk to pick them up.

You can pick up your paperwork by appointment starting July 15, 2024.

The appointment takes 30 to 60 minutes. Schedule your appointment by email or phone:

2. Meet with the City Clerk to get documents and learn about the process.

At your appointment, the City Clerk will review the nomination process with you. We’ll go over the required documents, deadlines, and rules. This includes topics like:

  • Collecting signatures
  • Writing your ballot designation and candidate statement
  • Filing your statement of economic interest and other campaign finance reports

3. Complete your documents.

You will need to complete multiple forms and worksheets, including:

  • Official filing form: You will need to obtain signatures of at least 20, but no more than 30 registered Piedmont voters.

  • Ballot designation worksheet: The ballot designation goes under your name on the ballot. It describes your occupation or if you are an incumbent.

  • Candidate statement form (electronic and hard copy): Your candidate statement helps voters learn your qualifications. It’s included in the Voter Information Pamphlet that’s mailed to all voters in Piedmont.

  • Statement of economic interest (Form 700): State law requires candidates to disclose investments and interests in real property. This is also referred to as a Form 700. Refer to the FPPC Form 700 webpage for instructions on how to complete your statement.

The City Clerk will explain each form to you during your initial appointment. If you have questions while completing your documents, contact the City Clerk for assistance.

4. File your completed documents by the deadline.

The deadline to file your nomination documents is August 9 by 5 p.m. You need to do this in-person at the City Clerk’s office.

When you file, you need to take the oath of allegiance in the presence of the City Clerk or a Deputy City Clerk. Both you and the Clerk sign the form verifying the oath.

If you file early, we can verify the signatures and let you know if there are any issues. If needed, you can collect more signatures.

If an incumbent who is eligible to seek reelection does not file nomination papers by the deadline, the deadline for that office only is extended to August 14.

5. File campaign finance reports as needed.

You need to file forms with financial details of your campaign. You may need a campaign treasurer and designated bank account. Your filing requirements depend on how much you raise and spend on your campaign.

Learn about campaign finance rules and process.

What’s next

There are rules you need to know if you are running a political campaign:

Get help