Last Updated on Friday, 09 December 2022 11:15
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ELECTIONS (General Information)
The City of Atascadero holds a General Election in November of even-numbered years for the purpose of electing a Mayor for a 2-year term, two Council Members for 4-year terms and on alternating election years a City Treasurer for a 4-year term. The City’s General Elections are held on the same day as the statewide general election. Additionally, ballot measures affecting the City of Atascadero may appear on the ballot. The City consolidates its election activities with those of the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder's Office, which provides for voter registration, ballot materials, polling places and other critical elections functions. Other Special Elections may be held when necessary.
For current election information and General Elections results, please visit the County Clerk Recorder website: SLO County Clerk Recorder's Office. For ballot counting and elections results reporting, please contact the County Elections Office at (805) 781-5228.
To view past election results click here.
MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER & TREASURER ELECTION
A Consolidated General Election will be held in the City of Atascadero on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, for the following offices:
• One (1) Mayor for a full term of two (2) years
• Two (2) Members of the City Council for full terms of four (4) years
• One (1) Treasurer for a full term of four (4) years
These individuals are elected by, and from among, the registered voters of the City of Atascadero, to represent the interests of the City as a whole. Information about the Council's role and current members is available on the City’s website.
Resolutions & Notices
Nomination Period
The nomination period for these offices begins on July 18, 2022 and closes on August 12, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. If nomination papers for an incumbent officer of the City are not filed by August 12, 2022, the filing deadline will be extended to August 17, 2022. This extension is not applicable to incumbents.
The Atascadero City Clerk's Office is the receiving agency for nomination papers for City of Atascadero elected positions. Potential candidates, and citizens interested in more information about candidates, are encouraged to contact the City Clerk at (805) 470-3400 or by email cityclerk@atascadero.org for more information.
PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES
Residents interested in running for office are encouraged to contact the City Clerk's Office early for information about required paperwork and filing deadlines. An appointment to receive and file nomination papers during regular business hours is required.
In order for a candidate's name to appear on the ballot, the candidate must obtain election documents from the City Clerk's Office, and submit all required nomination paperwork, including a petition signed by other City voters, during the specified nomination period. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 470-3400 for more information.
Eligibility Requirements to Run for Office
• You must be a resident of the City of Atascadero.
• You must be a registered voter in the City of Atascadero.
Campaign Filing Requirements
Individuals who intend to run for office must file certain Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) forms with the City Clerk's Office before soliciting any campaign contributions or making any campaign expenditures.
File a Candidate Intention Statement FPPC Form 501. Prospective candidates can file their FPPC Form 501 anytime between now and the Nomination Period.
After filing FPPC Form 501, should a candidate begin to campaign and raise funds he/or she must also file an originally signed FPPC Form 410 with the Secretary of State (copy of the form to be submitted to the Clerk’s office) within 10 days of receiving $2,000.
Instructions for both forms are on the first page of each form. Please read the instructions carefully and thoroughly. Prospective candidates can mail their FPPC forms to City of Atascadero 6500 Palma Ave., Atascadero, CA 93422 or contact the City Clerk at (805) 470-3400 to set up a time to drop the forms off at City Hall.
Resources
CANDIDATES & COMMITTEES
This section contains information about Candidates for Mayor, City Council Member or Treasurer in the November 8, 2022 General Election, and their controlled committees.
Qualified Candidates for Mayor (1 available seat)
Heather Moreno
Date filed Form 501: December 21, 2021
Date filed nomination paperwork: July 27, 2022
Date qualified for ballot: August 1, 2022
The 10 day review period for candidate statements for Mayor was August 13, 2022 through August 22, 2022.
Qualified Candidates for City Council Member (2 available seats)
Susan Funk
Date filed Form 501: Janaury 10, 2022
Date filed nomination paperwork: August 9, 2022
Date qualified for ballot: August 11, 2022
Heather Newsom
Date filed Form 501: February 7, 2022
Date filed nomination paperwork: August 10, 2022
Date qualified for ballot: August 11, 2022
Bret Heinemann
Date filed Form 501: August 12, 2022
Date filed nomination paperwork: August 12, 2022
Date qualified for ballot: August 12, 2022
The 10 day review period for candidate statements for City Council Member was August 13, 2022 through August 22, 2022.
Qualified Candidates for Treasurer (1 available seat)
Gere Sibbach
Date filed Form 501: July 22, 2022
Date filed nomination paperwork: July 29, 2022
Date qualified for ballot: August 1, 2022
The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) requires campaign disclosure reports from committees, candidates and elected officials at various times of the year. The City Clerk serves as the Filing Officer for local candidates. All filings are scanned and available for public review through the City Clerk folder in the City's repository. Original documents (un-redacted) are public information and available in the City Clerk’s Office for review by appointment.
CAMPAIGN SIGNS
The Atascadero Municipal Code regulates when candidates may post campaign signs and when they must remove them under the regulations for temporary non-commercial signs.
Legal decisions in California concerning campaign signs have concluded that requiring a pre-election limitation on campaign signs violates the First Amendment. In essence, the courts are finding that such signs are an inexpensive and effective method for candidates, particularly unknown, non-incumbent candidates, to get out a message and establish name recognition. Placing a time limit on a sign, based on the sign’s content, is viewed as severely restricting such free speech, and this restriction outweighs the City’s aesthetic interests.
This reasoning also applies to the issue of a post-election removal period. A few courts have held that regulations requiring the removal of signs following an election are permissible. However, the City’s current regulations treat all temporary non-commercial signs equally, regardless of content, and place a 9-month restriction on the placement of signs and requires that signs must be removed a minimum of 90 days before any new non-commercial signage may be placed. While some California cities may still impose limits similar to our former requirements, many, like Atascadero, have repealed them.
As a result, Candidates may place their campaign signs when they wish. However, the City asks all candidates to be cautious about when campaign signs are placed, as many community members still feel strongly about not having elections signs placed for an extended period of time. The City also asks that Candidates please remove signs, at the earliest possible convenience, following the election as a courtesy to neighbors and community members.
If you become aware of any campaign sign violations, please call the candidate and/or campaign committee and report the violation. If the violation is not resolved in a timely manner, please contact the Atascadero City Clerk.
Zoning Regulations - For information click here.
Signs in City Right-of-Way
Campaign signs are not permitted in City right-of-way or on City property. Signs placed in City right-of-way or on City property are subject to removal. An exception would be temporary signs during a specific event such as at the Lake Park.
The City encourages Candidates to make certain they have the appropriate permission before placing signs on private property (including the right of way/roadway in front of private property). If an illegal sign is placed in the City, the City will contact the Candidate with a seventy-two (72) hour notice to correct the violation. Failure to correct the violation will result in a citation.
Signs in Caltrans (State) Right-of-Way
Please contact CalTrans at (916) 654-6473 for information about its outdoor advertising program (for placement of signs within state highway right-of-way).
If you have concerns regarding signs in the CalTrans right-of-way, please submit a Customer Service Request directly to CalTrans using the following link: https://csr.dot.ca.gov/. You can also contact the local CalTrans office by calling (805) 434-1812.
VOTER INFORMATION
Voter Registration
All registered voters in California will receive a vote-by-mail ballot in the mail before the election. In-person voting locations will still be available on Election Day. An update on in-person voting locations will be provided on the San Luis Obispo County Clerk-Recorder’s website once the details of in-person voting and ballot drop-off locations have been determined.
In California, the deadline to register to vote for an election is 15 days before each local and statewide Election Day. To be eligible to vote at the November 3, 2020 election, you must be registered to vote no later than Monday, October 19, 2020. For information regarding voter registration or to obtain a vote-by-mail ballot, visit County Clerk-Recorder's Office - Elections and Voting.
To register or update your voter registration visit: http://registertovote.ca.gov.
ADDITIONAL ELECTION INFORMATION & RESOURCES
Voter’s Edge California provides voters with comprehensive non-partisan information about the contests on their ballots in an easy-to-use presentation, and provide a means for candidates to publish information about themselves and their candidacy directly to voters.
The California Secretary of State provides information for voters with disabilities, including information about accessing elections and the Voting Accessibility Advisory Committee.
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