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Candidate Qualifications
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City Council Election Calendar - May 2007 Election
Appointment of Campaign Treasurer
Contributions
Application for a Place on the Ballot
Petitions / Signatures Required
Important Links and Phone Numbers

A candidate for city council must:

• Be a United States citizen
• Be 18 years of age or older on the first day of the term
• Be a qualified voter of the City of Dallas at the date of election
• Have not been determined mentally incompetent by a final judgment of a court
• Have not been finally convicted of a felony from which the person has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities
• Not be in arrears in the payment of any taxes or other liabilities due the City of Dallas
• Have resided continuously in Texas since March 12, 2006, (for 12 months prior to the filing deadline)
• Have resided continuously in the district they wish to represent since November 12, 2006.

The Texas Election Code requires that a candidate for city council must have lived continuously in Texas for one year preceding the filing deadline for the election.  The Dallas City Charter requires that a candidate for a single-member city council place must have lived continuously in the city council district the candidate hopes to represent for six months preceding the date of the election. A candidate for mayor must have lived continuously in the city for six months preceding the date of the election [Election Code 141.001(5); City Charter IV§6(a)]. 

The City Charter was amended in May 1993 to provide that "No person may appear on the official ballot as a candidate for a place on the city council unless:  (1) that person files with the city secretary a signed, sworn, and dated affidavit certifying compliance with the residency requirements...[and] (2) the city secretary is reasonably able to verify the truth of the affidavit of residency."  The signed, sworn, and dated APPLICATION FOR A PLACE ON THE CITY OF DALLAS GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT, requires a candidate to list the candidate's permanent residence address, including street address and apartment number, the length of continuous residence in the state, the city, and the city council district the candidate is seeking as of the date the candidate swears to the application, and will satisfy the requirements of the City Charter [City Charter IV§6(c)].

To file as a candidate, a completed, notarized application must be filed with the city secretary by the filing deadline, Monday, March 12, 2007.  The application form includes spaces for the candidate to indicate which city council place is being sought; the candidate's permanent residence address; the length of the candidate's continuous residency in the state, city and city council district, and exactly how the candidate's name should appear on the official ballot.  The form also includes a statement regarding the candidate's qualifications.

The application is a sworn document, so it cannot be changed once it is filed.  Be sure all required information is included and accurate.

The Application for a Place on the Ballot must be accompanied by a PETITION FOR A PLACE ON THE CITY GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT.  The petition must be signed by the required number of qualified voters from the single-member district from which the candidate is seeking to be elected.  The petition must also include an affidavit completed by the person who circulated the petition stating that purpose of the petition was explained to each signer and that the circulator witnessed each signature, and that the circulator verified each signer's registration status.

The City Charter requires that a candidate for city council must file a petition signed by voters equal in number to the minimum number of signatures required by the Texas Election Code.  The Election Code provides that a candidate's petition filed with an application for a place on the ballot for an office of a home-rule city must contain signatures of qualified voters eligible to vote for the candidate equal in number to one-half of one percent of the total votes received in the territory from which the office is elected by all candidates for mayor in the most recent mayoral general election, or 25 signatures, whichever is greater.  [City Charter IV§7; Election Code 143.005(d)]  The number of signatures required for a place on the May 12, 2007 City General Election ballot is listed by council place on the table below.

MAY 12, 2007 CITY COUNCIL GENERAL ELECTION CALENDAR

* Events that apply only if there is a runoff.

CAMPAIGN TREASURER APPOINTMENT

The first thing a person who plans to run for City Council must do is appoint a campaign treasurer.

The Texas Election Code, which governs all elections in Texas, including city council elections, requires that every "candidate" must appoint a campaign treasurer.  [Election Code Sec. 252.001] The Election Code defines "candidate" as "a person who knowingly and willingly takes affirmative action for the purpose of gaining nomination or election to public office or for the purpose of satisfying financial obligations incurred by the person in connection with the campaign for nomination or election."  [Election Code Sec. 251.001(1)]    The Election code gives as examples of "affirmative action" that would make a person a "candidate" such things as filing an application for a place on the ballot, filing a declaration of write-in candidacy, making a public announcement of a definite intent to run for office, making a statement of intent to run for office and soliciting support by letter or other mode of communication before making a public announcement, soliciting or accepting a campaign contribution, or making a campaign expenditure.

Texas Ethics Commission Form CTA, APPOINTMENT OF A CAMPAIGN TREASURER BY A CANDIDATE, should be filed with the city secretary before a person takes any "affirmative action" that would make the person a candidate.

Chapter 145 of the Texas Local Government Code requires that all candidates for municipal office in cities with populations of 100,000 or more must file personal financial disclosure statements with the city secretary.  The deadline for filing your personal financial disclosure statement is April 2, 2007.  No extensions may be granted.  The statement must be notarized, and filed with the City Secretary's Office.  A blank form and instruction guide are provided in your packet.

The Election Code and the City Charter both provide that the order in which candidates will be listed on the ballot will be determined by a drawing.  The drawing for the May 12, 2007, city general election will be held Friday, March 16, 2007, at City Hall.  The candidate or a representative may draw for the ballot position.  If a candidate is not represented at the drawing a member of the city secretary's staff will draw for the candidate.  A notice of the exact time and location of the drawing will be mailed to all candidates.

The city manager will conduct a briefing prior to the election to acquaint candidates with the municipal government organization and to answer questions regarding policy and procedure.  Information about the briefing will be sent to candidates once a date has been selected.  Any questions about the briefing or regarding city government operations may be directed to the Mayor and City Council's Office, at (214) 670-5682..

There are State and City regulations regarding campaign financing.

Title 15 of the Texas Election Code requires that a candidate keep accurate records of all contributions received and expenditures made during a campaign.  A series of sworn reports must be filed with the city secretary during the campaign.  A copy of Title 15, the Campaign Finance Filing Guide for Local Candidates and Officeholders prepared by the Texas Ethics Commission,  and forms for filing the Title 15 reports are included in the packet.  Instructions for completing the reports are also included.  You may reproduce the forms if needed or we will supply additional forms on request.

Most candidates will be required to file two Title 15 reports:

.     The 30TH DAY BEFORE AN ELECTION (April 12, 2007) report covers the period beginning on the day a campaign treasurer was appointed or the first day after the period covered by the last required report, as applicable, and continuing through the 40th day before the election (April 2, 2007).

.     The 8TH DAY BEFORE AN ELECTION (May 4, 2007) report covers the period beginning on the 39th day before the election (April 3, 2007) and continuing through the 10th day before the election (May 2, 2007).

Some candidates (candidates involved in a runoff election) may have to file additional reports.  All candidates must file semiannual reports in January and July until a DESIGNATION OF FINAL REPORT form is filed.

Read Title 15 and the instructions with the report forms carefully to be certain you file all of the required reports.  Also check the election calendar so that the reports will be filed on time.  No reminders of report deadlines will be sent to candidates.  Questions about Title 15 campaign reporting should be directed to the Texas Ethics Commission in Austin at 1-800-325-8506 or (512) 463-5800.

Article I of Chapter 15A of the Dallas City Code sets limits on the amount an individual or political committee may contribute to a city council candidate.

.     An individual may contribute up to $1,000 in support of, or opposition to, a single-member district candidate and up to $5,000 in support of, or opposition to, a candidate for mayor.

.     A political committee (also referred to as "political action committee" or "PAC") may contribute up to $2,500 to a single-member district candidate and up to $10,000 to a candidate for mayor.

There are State and City regulations regarding political signs.

Section 255.007 of the Texas Election Code requires that the following notice be written on each political advertising sign:

"NOTICE: IT IS A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW (CHAPTERS 392 AND 393, TRANSPORTATION CODE), TO PLACE THIS SIGN IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY OF A HIGHWAY"

Campaign signs may be placed on private property at any time.  A copy of the policy regarding placement of signs on City of Dallas Park property is enclosed.  If you have any questions about campaign signs call Code Compliance Services, at (214) 670-5708.

Please be aware that all information a candidate files with the city secretary becomes a public record and is public information.  Interested citizens, other candidates, and members of the news media may ask to see the information that you file with us as a candidate.

We will send all election-related information to the address you gave as "candidate mailing address" when you filed your APPOINTMENT OF A CAMPAIGN TREASURER BY A CANDIDATE.  If your address has changed, or you would prefer that information be sent to a different address, please notify us at once.  We want to insure that each candidate is kept informed about all election matters.

ADDITIONAL CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Each candidate who has filed an appointment of campaign treasurer with the city secretary will be sent a packet containing petition forms, an application for a place on the ballot, copies of portions of the City Charter and the City Code that contain information that candidates should be aware of, forms for filing campaign finance reports and other election-related information.  Candidates who have filed campaign treasurer appointments will also receive notices and election information during the campaign period.

Election information will be sent to the mailing address the candidate provides on the campaign treasurer appointment form.  We want to insure that every candidate is informed about all election matters.  If you have questions about the city council election process please call Michelle Calloway at (214) 670-3044.

Important Links and Phone Numbers

If you have election related questions regarding other types of elections please call the Secretary of State of the State of Texas at (800) 252-8683

Updated: May 2, 2006

Dallas City Council meeting minutes are prepared under the authority of the City Secretary, Deborah Watkins © City of Dallas, 2005 1500 Marilla Street Dallas, TX 75201 www.dallascityhall.com All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer