General Election

November 5, 2024

ANNOUNCEMENT - UPCOMING ELECTION SEMINAR!

Representatives from the City of Martinez will be hosting an informational seminar for Martinez residents who are interested in running for office in the November General Election. The seminar will be MC'd by City Manager Michael Chandler, and presenters will include Mayor Brianne Zorn and City Elections Official Kat Galileo.

SEATS UP FOR ELECTION

The City Council has four members elected by district and one Mayor elected at-large; all elected to and serve for a four-year term. Councilmembers are only eligible to run for the district where they reside. The City Treasurer is another position within the City who is elected at-large and who serves a four-year term. The following seats are up for election on November 5, 2024:

DISTRICT 2 COUNCILMEMBER

DISTRICT 3 COUNCILMEMBER

CITY TREASURER

All Candidates who are elected for Office will serve a four-year term starting December 18, 2024, and ending December 2028. City Council ratifies the certification of the results at the next regular meeting in December following the November election and receipt of certified results from the Contra Costa County Elections Office.

Vice Mayor rotates between Councilmembers on an annual basis. City Council selects a new Vice Mayor at the first regular meeting held in December.

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates must be registered to vote in Martinez for at least 30 days before filing nomination papers. To be a registered voter in the City, one must reside in the City of Martinez and be a U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older.

Candidates for City Council Districts 2 and 3 must reside in the respective District. To ensure this qualification is met, the Office of the City Clerk will verify voter registration status with the Contra Costa County Elections Office before issuing nomination papers.

Use this Interactive Map to check which district you reside in by entering in your address!

NOMINATION PERIOD: JULY 15 - AUGUST 9TH

Please note - The City Clerk's Office will start accepting appointment requests on Monday, June 17th, for the purpose of pulling nomination papers. More information to come!

Nomination period opens Monday, July 15th and closes Friday, August 9th. During this time, Martinez residents who are interested in running for office can pull nomination papers from the City Clerk's Office.

To pull nomination papers, an appointment with the City Clerk is required. During this appointment, the City Clerk will confirm your eligibility and review the paperwork with you. This appointment will last roughly one-hour.

To submit nomination papers, an appointment with the City Clerk is required. During this appointment, the City Clerk will review your nomination papers for accuracy and completion. This appointment will last roughly a half-hour.

FILING OBLIGATIONS

Candidates who intend to file nomination papers during the Nomination Period will be subject to filing obligations, pursuant to the Political Reform Act and Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), Government Code, Elections Code and/or City Municipal Code:

Form 501: Candidate Intention Statement - Must be filed before soliciting or receiving any contributions, or before making expenditures on behalf of a candidacy. This Form must be filed in hardcopy with the Office of the City Clerk.
Form 410: Statement of Organization of Recipient Committee - Must be filed within 10 days of receiving $2,000 in contributions. Note: Municipal elections are non-partisan.
Form 700: Statement of Economic Interests - The Political Reform Act under Government Code Section 87200 requires officials and candidates or the elective offices specified in the Code to file Form 700, Statement of Economic Interests, at the time of filing nomination papers and periodically to disclose certain investments, interests in real property, sources of income, gifts, loans and business positions. State law requires that an original form be filed with the City Clerk at the same time nomination papers are filed. Note: Martinez Municipal Code Section 2.88.010 requires electronic filing of Form 700s and other forms required by Government Code Sections 87200 and 84100.
Ballot Designations - The candidate’s designation of occupation or identification to be printed on the ballot shall not exceed three words. There are additional requirements and prohibitions under Section 13107 of the Elections Code.
Campaign Contribution Limits - Campaign contributions are currently limited to $4,900 per contributor in aggregate as imposed by Assembly Bill 571.
Candidate Written Statements (Optional) - If you choose to submit a statement for publication in the voter information guide sent to voters, the Office of the City Clerk will provide the appropriate form. Once filed, the statement may be withdrawn, but not changed, on or before the closing of the nomination period and until 3 p.m. of the next working day after the close of the nomination period. There are additional requirements and prohibitions in preparing this statement under Section 13307 of the Elections Code.

ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Early Filing Obligations

Some filing obligations may occur prior to the Nomination Period. For more information on filing obligations, visit FPPC’s “When and Where to File Campaign Statements” webpage.

Statement Cost

There is a cost associated with filing a Candidate Written Statement which is set by the County Registrar of Voters. Please check with the Office of the City Clerk as the nomination period approaches to confirm the estimated cost. This cost is paid by each candidate who chooses to have their candidate statement published in the voter information pamphlet.

Electronic Campaign Filing

The City of Martinez requires electronic filing of campaign statements. Contact the Office of the City Clerk to request a NetFile electronic campaign filing account to file campaign statements electronically.
The City’s Campaign Statement Public Portal contains financial information provided by candidates and committees. Use the Campaign Statement Public Portal to research campaign contributions and expenditures, review campaign statements filed by candidates and committees, or examine a committee's filing history by election.

Mass Mailing Requirements

Government Code Section 84305 pertaining to mass mailing of election literature will be provided to each candidate when they file their Declaration of Candidacy.

Political Signs

Posting of political signs are regulated under the City’s Municipal Code.

Public Disclosure of Records

Nomination petitions and campaign statements are subject to public disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act. However, candidate statements are not subject to public disclosure until after the nomination period closes.

IMPORTANT DATES

JULY 15 to AUGUST 9: Nomination Period

During the nomination period, nomination papers for Council District 2, District 3 and City Treasurer can be obtained by appointment from the City Clerk’s Office. The original nomination paperwork, including original signatures, must be received by the Office of the City Clerk prior to the close of the nomination period. Only one candidate may be named in any one set of nomination papers, and no person may file nomination papers for more than one position for the same election. The City does not charge a filing fee for nomination papers.

JULY 31: FPPC Semi-Annual Statement Due

Deadline for semi-annual Fair Political Practices Commission financial disclosure report Form 460 covering the period Jan. 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024 or the day after the closing date of the last statement filed before June 30, 2024.

AUGUST 7 to NOVEMBER 5: Contribution / Independent Expenditures

Sums of $1,000 or more to/from a single source must be reported within 24 hours. The Independent Expenditure report is required only for committees (not candidate controlled) that make independent expenditures totaling $1,000 or more to support or oppose a single ballot measure or a single candidate.

AUGUST 10 to AUGUST 14: Extension Nomination Period (if applicable)

If an eligible incumbent fails to file a Declaration of Candidacy by 3 p.m. on Aug. 14 for his or her office, there is a 5-calendar-day extension period during which any candidate, other than the incumbent, may file for said office.

AUGUST 10 to AUGUST 19: Examination Period for All Ballot Designations and Candidate Statements for Those Contests Not in Extension

10-calendar day public examination period immediately following the filing deadline of candidate statements when the statements and ballot designations may be reviewed for potential legal action. During this 10-calendar day examination period, any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held, or any candidate may take legal action to challenge the contents of the statement or the ballot designations.

AUGUST 15 to AUGUST 24: Examination Period for All Ballot Designations and Candidate Statements for Those Contests in Extension

10-calendar day public examination period immediately following the filing deadline of candidate statements when the statements and ballot designations may be reviewed for potential legal action. During this 10-calendar day examination period, any voter of the jurisdiction in which the election is being held, or any candidate may take legal action to challenge the contents of the statement or the ballot designations.

AUGUST 15: Randomized Alphabet Drawing

The Secretary of State will conduct a random drawing of letters of the alphabet to determine the order in which candidates appear on the ballot.

SEPTEMBER 9 to OCTOBER 22: Write-In Candidacy Opens and Closes

Filing period for write-in candidates to obtain and file nomination documents.

SEPTEMBER 26: FPPC 1st Pre-Election Statement Due

Deadline for FPPC financial disclosure report Form 460, for campaign committees supporting or opposing local candidate or measures, covering the period of July 1, 2024 through Sept. 24, 2024.

OCTOBER 24: FPPC 2nd Pre-Election Statement Due

Deadline for FPPC financial disclosure report Form 460, for campaign committees supporting or opposing local measures covering the period of Sept. 25, 2024, through Oct. 22, 2024.

NOVEMBER 5: ELECTION DAY

All voting centers are open from 7AM to 8PM.

DECEMBER 5: Official Canvass of Vote

Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters to certify election results.

JANUARY 31, 2025: FPPC Semi-Annual Statement Due

Deadline for all committees to file a Form 460 covering the period Oct. 23, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024 unless the committee filed termination Forms 410 and 460 before Dec. 31, 2024.