If you’ve ever thought about running for City Council, now is the time
If running for City Council in the Coachella Valley is on your bucket list, now may be your chance.
There are also openings on City Council, Water Board, College of the Desert and more throughout the Valley. The official running period has begun. If you have specific questions about your city, please contact your City Clerk.
Official Recommendation Period
If you’re considering running for Cathedral City Council, here’s what you need to know about the nomination process.
Recommendation period:
The official nomination period begins on July 15, 2024 and ends on August 9, 2024. If the incumbent does not run by the deadline, the nomination period will extend until August 14, 2024.
Qualification requirements:
You must be a registered voter in your current place of residence within the City of Cathedral City. You must reside in the district in which you are running. You must obtain 20-30 signatures of voters in your district on your official nomination papers. You must be a U.S. citizen. You must not be disqualified from holding public office under the California Constitution or state law.
Next steps:
First, contact the City Clerk’s Office to schedule an appointment to submit your candidacy papers and pick up your Candidate Handbook. Call (760) 770-0322 or email us. [email protected].
Campaign Disclosure Form
Under the Political Reform Act, the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) requires both candidates and political action committees (PACs) to provide detailed disclosures about their campaign fundraising and expenditures. This transparency helps maintain the integrity of the electoral process and ensures public access to financial information about campaigns.
Campaign Finance Restrictions
The City of Cathedral City has adopted Resolution 2020-53, which establishes campaign finance limitations pursuant to Elections Code Section 10202 (which automatically repealed on January 1, 2021) and Government Code Section 85702.5 (effective January 1, 2021), imposing campaign finance limitations on candidates running for public office within the City.
Click here for Resolution 2020-53.
Election sign regulations
For more information on election sign regulations within Cathedral City, click here.
External Resources
California Secretary of State
Riverside County Election Commissioner
Committee on Fair Political Practices
The role of the City Clerk
The City Clerk oversees local elections and works closely with the Riverside County Supervisor of Elections to administer municipal elections. Duties include:
Preparing general and special election resolutions; Administering the nomination process; Processing initiatives, referendums and recall petitions; and Officially announcing election results.
Please note that while the City Clerk handles election filings, they cannot provide detailed guidance on disclosure forms required by the Fair Political Activities Commission (FPPC). For specific questions regarding these forms, please refer to the FPPC’s Campaign Disclosure Manual for Local Candidates. You may also contact them directly for advice at 1-866-ASK-FPPC (1-866-275-3772), available Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
Cathedral City City Clerk’s address, contact details and hours of operation:
position:
Cathedral City Hall
Second floor
68-700 Avenida Laro Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 922234
contact address:
Phone: (760) 770-0322
Email: [email protected]
business hours
Monday to Friday: 8:00am to 4:30pm
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Holidays: Closed on all major holidays.
If you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 760 770-0322 or email us. [email protected].
Photo credit: Shutterstock