This chapter may be cited as the Glendale Local Election Candidate
Filing Cost Assistance Program.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A.
In enacting
this chapter, it is the city council's purpose and intent to:
1.
Enable
individuals and interest groups in the city access to a fair and equal
opportunity to participate in the municipal governmental processes;
2.
Assist
serious candidates to communicate their views and positions to the
public;
3.
Provide
a neutral source of campaign financing in the form of limited public
funds to mitigate the initial costs and fees to participate in local
elections incurred by local candidates; and
4.
Assist
candidates and officeholders to spend a lesser proportion of their
time on fundraising and a greater proportion of their time dealing
with issues of importance to their constituents.
B.
The
Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program shall be implemented
for the years in which the city council has appropriated such funds
in the city's annual budget allocation process.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 1.10.020.
means the city of Glendale.
means the Glendale city council pursuant to the city charter.
shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 1.10.020.
shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 1.10.020.
means the amount of funds appropriated by the city council
in the city's annual budget allocation process to be disbursed to
candidates running for Glendale city council seats.
means the payment of costs under the program on behalf of
a candidate, or the reimbursement of costs under the program to the
candidate.
means the city's Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance
Program or public funds program.
shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 1.10.020.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A.
A candidate
for city council, city treasurer or city clerk shall be considered
a "qualified candidate" and shall, subject to budget appropriation,
be approved to receive public funds if the candidate meets all of
the following requirements:
1.
The
candidate agrees to the city's conditions and requirements on the
use of public funds.
2.
The
candidate is certified to appear on the ballot for the election for
which public funds are sought and the candidate is opposed by at least
one other certified candidate for the same office.
3.
The total amount of contributions accepted by the candidate in connection with the election for which public funds are sought shall not exceed $50,000. Any candidate who accepts contributions in excess of $50,000 shall no longer be considered a "qualified candidate" for public funds and for participation in the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program and shall return all public funds previously received, pursuant to Section 1.09.090. For the purposes of this section, the fifty thousand dollar ($50,000.00) cap on aggregate contributions does not include the public funds amount(s) disbursed to a qualifying candidate under this chapter.
5.
Loans and in-kind contributions shall not be included in the fifty thousand dollar ($50,000.00) cap on aggregate contributions for the purposes of subsection (A)(3) of this section.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A.
Under
the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program, the city
shall waive the local fee(s) associated with the initial filings by
local candidates and shall pay the initial fee payable to outside
entities incurred by local candidates.
1.
The
local initial filing cost to be waived for qualifying local candidates
shall be the city of Glendale candidate filing fee.
2.
The
initial filing cost to be paid on behalf of qualifying local candidates
under this chapter shall be the candidate statement filing fee(s)
collected by the County of Los Angeles for candidate statement to
be printed in English.
B.
The
maximum available public funds per qualifying candidate under the
Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program shall be an
amount not to exceed $4,000. If the actual costs to be waived or paid
pursuant to this section are less than $4,000, then the qualifying
local candidate shall receive the appropriate waiver or payment in
the actual amount of the cost. If the actual costs to be waived or
paid pursuant to this section exceed $4,000, then the qualifying local
candidate shall receive public funds capped at $4,000.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A.
Each
local candidate must file with the city clerk a statement of acceptance
or rejection of the local candidate's participation in the Local Election
Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program by completing the appropriate
city form(s) and their timely filing as instructed therein.
B.
A local
candidate who fails to timely file a statement of acceptance or rejection
in the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program, and
the appropriate forms within the required time period, may not participate
in the program.
C.
A local
candidate who initially agrees to participate in the program but who
subsequently declines to do so will be deemed a non-participating
candidate and will be ineligible to receive public funds for that
single election cycle and must return any and all public funds received
for that single election cycle.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
Subject to budget appropriation of public funds to fund the
Local Election Candidate Filing Cost Assistance Program, and once
a candidate demonstrates that the candidate is a "qualified candidate,"
the city will either waive applicable local costs and fees or pay
eligible costs on behalf of the qualified candidates by disbursing
public funds in accordance to the city's check disbursement policy.
A delay by the candidate in the timely filing of any forms or submittal
of information as required by this chapter may result in delayed processing
and disbursement time by the city.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
Public funds under the Local Election Candidate Filing Cost
Assistance Program may only be used for the purposes stated in this
chapter by a candidate during the single election cycle for which
the funds are allocated.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
A.
Candidates
may be required to return public funds waived or paid under the Local
Election Candidate Assistance Program if they are disqualified from
or violate the terms of the program.
1.
If
city staff notifies a candidate in writing that public funds must
be returned, the candidate must return said public funds, within 15
calendar days of the date of the written notice, in the form of a
cashier's check payable to the city.
2.
Candidates
who do not return public funds as required are subject to legal action
for collection of the funds as set forth in this section.
B.
Criminal
Penalty. Any person who is convicted of violating this chapter shall
be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by
a fine of not greater than $1,000 or by imprisonment in the county
jail for not more than 180 days, or by both fine and imprisonment.
C.
Civil
Enforcement. The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by means
of a civil action for injunctive and other relief, including statutory
damages. In a civil action, any person determined to have violated
this chapter may be held liable for statutory damages in an amount
of up to $10,000 and for such reasonable attorneys' fees and costs
as may be awarded by the court.
D.
Any
person who causes any other person to violate any provision of this
chapter, or who aids and abets any other person in the violation of
any provision of this chapter, shall equally be subject to the provisions
of this section.
(Ord. 5976 § 2, 2021)
