Official Records and Legislative Services

City of Clearwater Councilmember Candidacy Information

All councilmembers are elected at-large and serve four-year terms.

Candidates must be qualified voters of the city, at least eighteen years of age, and have continuously resided in the City for at least one year prior to the start of qualifying.  In order to qualify for office, signatures of 250 registered voters of the City of Clearwater must be obtained on petition cards.  The petition cards will be provided to potential candidates by the City.  

What is a Candidate?

A candidate is any person who:

1. Appoints a campaign treasurer and designates a primary depository.


2. Receives contributions or makes expenditures or gives consent for any other person to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to bringing about his or her nomination, or election, or retention in public office.


3. Seeks to qualify for nomination or election by means of a petitioning process.


4. Files qualification papers and subscribes to a candidate's oath as required by law.

Who can be a candidate?

To become a candidate for the Clearwater City Council, you must:

1. Be at least 18 years of age.


2. Be a registered voter of the City of Clearwater.


3. Be a resident of the City of Clearwater for at least one continuous year prior to the first day of the qualifying period.

When may I announce my candidacy?

1. You may discuss your candidacy at any time; however, you are considered an "announced" candidate when you file your Appointment of Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository (Form DS-DE 9).  This form is available 180 days prior to the election date (September 15, 2011).  You must file the completed Form DS-DE 9 with this office before you accept any campaign contributions or make any expenditure toward your campaign.  This form shows:
   
   (a) Your name, address, and phone number.
   (b) Name, address, and phone number of your campaign treasurer.
   (c) Signature of campaign treasurer, showing acceptance of appointment.
   (d) Name and address of your depository (bank).
   (e) Seat number sought.


2. Form DS-DE 9 is not effective until the campaign treasurer signs it and it is filed with this office.


3. F.S. 106.023 requires that, within 10 days of filing the Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository, you must file a Statement of Candidate with the City Clerk, stating you have read and understand Chapter 106.  (This form will be provided upon filing Form DS-DE 9.)

Campaign treasurer

1. Your campaign treasurer may serve as treasurer for more than one candidate or political committee. You or your spouse may serve as your campaign treasurer. Your campaign depository may be any bank, savings and loan association, or credit union authorized to transact business in the State of Florida.


2. All contributions and expenditures are to be made through the campaign treasurer.


3. The campaign treasurer is responsible for keeping detailed accounts, current within not more than 2 days after the date of receiving a contribution or making an expenditure.


4. The campaign treasurer is responsible for filing the required treasurer's reports. Deadlines for filing the report are listed in the Candidates' Calendar.

Candidate qualifying and filing for office

A. When and where?

When: Begins November 4, 2011 at 8am and ends November 18, 2011 at 5pm.

Where: Official Records & Legislative Services Department, City Hall, 2nd floor, 112 S. Osceola Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33756

B. What must I do when I file for office?

1. Submit State Financial Disclosure Form. (Provided upon filling DS-DE 9 with City Clerk)


2. Submit at least 250 petition cards, each signed by a registered voter of the City of Clearwater. (350 cards will be provided upon filing DS-DE 9 with City Clerk.)


3. Sign Loyalty Oath.


4. Pay a qualifying fee of $100 and an election assessment fee of 1% of the salary of the office being sought (Seat 1 = $237.94, and seats 2 and 3 = $198.28). These fees must be paid by a check drawn on the campaign account.

Resign to Run Requirement

1. Per F.S. 99.012(3)(c), No officer may qualify as a candidate for another public office (whether state, district, county, or municipal) if the terms or any part thereof run concurrently with each other, without resigning from the office currently held. The resignation is irrevocable.


2. The written resignation must be submitted at least ten days prior to the first day of qualifying for the office. The resignation must be effective no later than the earlier of the following dates:
   
   a. The date the officer would take office, if elected; or
   b. The date the officer's successor is required to take office.

Please direct any questions to the Official Records & Legislative Services at (727) 562-4093.