Since 1974, California has had in place a campaign finance disclosure law requiring candidates and committees to make their contributions and expenditures public. All local elected officeholders, candidates for local elected offices, and committees in support or opposed to local candidates are required to file their campaign disclosure reports with the City Clerk at specified intervals.
These reports disclose who gave money and how much, and who received money and how much, and are available for review in the City Clerk's Office 24-hours after the stated due dates.
In general terms, the Forms you will find include:
Form 470, Officeholder and Candidate Campaign Statement Short Form:
A candidate who does not anticipate raising or spending more than $1000 may file a 470 "Short" Form to indicate their candidacy. If a candidate does not intend to raise or spend more than $1000, this may be the only campaign finance reporting form they are required to file.
Form 501, Candidate Intention Statement
The 501 Form indicates a candidate's intent to seek elected office and that they intend to raise or spend more than $1000 in doing so. It must be filed prior to the solicitation or receipt of any contribution, or the expenditure of any personal funds used for an election.
Form 410, Statement of Organization Recipient Committee:
A campaign committee must file a 410 Form within 10 days of raising or spending $1000. The 410 Form indicates the candidate for which the committee was formed, the name and address of the campaign committee, the treasurer and the location (bank name and address) of the committee's bank account.
Form 460, Recipient Committee Campaign Statement:
At semi-annual intervals during the year and more regularly prior to Election Day, candidates must file a 460 Form outlining the manner in which they raise and spend money in pursuit of elected office. The 460 Form indicates the name, address, occupation and employer of contributors as well as the name, address and purpose for which payments have been made. It also outlines how much was raised and spent during that specific reporting period and in total for the calendar year. Detailed itemization is required for contributions received from a single source totaling $100 or more; expenditures of $100 or more; accrued expenses of $100 or more; and miscellaneous increases to cash of $100 or more. The law does not allow addresses to be posted online, however that information may be available from the City Clerk's Office.
Additional Campaign Disclosure Forms and Manuals can be found on the Fair Political Practices Commission's website.
If you would like more information, you may call the City Clerk's Office at 559-782-7464.
