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Town Hall Information Session SlidesQuick Facts •Three City Council Seats •4 Year Terms beginning January 2022 •Filing period is 8/23 –9/3 Quick Facts •Candidates must file the Declaration of Candidacy with a $40 filing fee, or file along Petition of Candidacy with verified signatures •Contributions or expenditures over $500 require reporting via the Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance Portal What’s New? •House Bill 413 (2020) •Cities over 100,000 population to elect city councilors by district This does not apply to the City of Meridian during the 2021 election Elected Official Pay and Benefits •Annual Compensation of $16,125 in 2022, and $17,355 in 2023 •Same benefits of regular, full-time City Employees •Exception: Vacation and Sick Leave Accrual Elected Official Responsibilities •Act as legislative and policy-making branch of government of the city •Meeting Participation •Meetings held the first four Tuesdays of each month •4:30 (Work Session) and 6:00 (Regular Meeting) •Special meetings with other agencies (ACHD, WASD, etc.) •Department Liaison appointments •Appointments to other boards (Meridian Development Corporation, Valley Regional Transit, etc.) Thoughts from a Former City Councilmember •William L.M. Nary served on the Meridian City Council from 2002 –2004, before being appointed City Attorney. The Election Process for Candidates •Declaration of Candidacy places your name on the ballot •Petition of Candidacy saves you $40 The Election Process for Candidates Petition for Candidacy •In lieu of $40 filing fee, this form is filed with signatures from five (5) or more qualified electors •Must be a qualified elector •Must be Meridian residents (within city limits) •Qualified electors can sign multiple petitions •Candidate can sign their own petition Declaration of Candidacy •The form which places your name on the ballot •Declare the seat you are seeking election for •Verifies your address against voter registration •Acknowledge campaign finance rules •Certifies information as true and accurate •Must be notarized Write-In Candidates •Candidate must file as write-in candidate for votes to be counted •Not required to file petition of candidacy or pay fee •Must file declaration by September 10 Withdrawal of Candidacy •Deadline to withdraw candidacy: September 17 •After that date, name will remain on ballot Idaho Campaign Finance •All money raised or spent over $500 requires reporting •Must appoint Treasurer (can be candidate) •Maximum contribution is $1,000 per individual, business, or political committee •The Secretary of State has a daily fine of $50 for late filing Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions Where can I place my campaign signs? •No signage can be placed on public or private property without permission. •No signage may be placed on any city property. •If a public utility grants permission for one candidate, they must allow all candidates for the same office to place signage. Frequently Asked Questions Are there term limits for City Council? •No. The term limits statute was repealed by the 2002 Idaho Legislature. •There are no restrictions on the number of terms an elected city councilor may serve. Frequently Asked Questions My name is Margaret, but people know me as Maggie. Can I run as “Maggie”? •The name on the ballot must appear exactly as it is written on the Declaration of Candidacy. •File your declaration as you wish your name to appear on the official ballot. Frequently Asked Questions Who can notarize my declaration or petition? •Any Notary duly authorized by the State of Idaho can notarize your documents, including City Clerk’s Office staff. Frequently Asked Questions Can I campaign on Election Day? •Yes. However “electioneering” is a criminal offense. •You may not campaign or distribute materials within a building where an election is being held, nor may you do so within 100 feet of a polling place, regardless of the location being public or private property. Please note: This also applies to Early Voting or In-Person Absentee Voting locations while voting is taking place. •Dotted line represents 100’ from City Hall Entrance Frequently Asked Questions Can residents of Meridian’s Area of Impact vote for City Council candidates? •No. Idaho Code does not allow nonresidents to vote in City elections. •It is important to note that having a Meridian ZIP code does not correlate to being a Meridian resident. •Those in doubt should verify their address with Ada County Elections. Frequently Asked Questions Can I run for multiple seats? Can I change my seat? •A candidate may only be listed on the ballot for one office. •A Candidate must declare the seat they are seeking on their declaration of candidacy. •A candidate may change the seat for which they are seeking election •Withdraw declaration of candidacy •File new declaration with corresponding petition for candidacy or $40 filing fee •Complete this process by the filing deadline. Frequently Asked Questions What happens if the vote ends in a tie? •The City Clerk will give notice to the candidates to appear before City Council in order to resolve the tie with a coin flip •(Idaho Code 50-410). Frequently Asked Questions When does the term of office begin? •Elected City Council members will be sworn into office at the first Regular Meeting of 2022. •City Clerk will remain in contact with elected officials to confirm time, location, and attendance.