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Independent Expenditures

April 4, 2017 Election

What is an Independent Expenditure?

An independent expenditure means the payment of money by any person for the purpose of advocating the election, defeat or recall of a candidate, which expenditure is not controlled by, or coordinated with, any candidate or any agent of such candidate.

Independent expenditure includes expenditures for political messages which unambiguously refer to any specific public office or candidate for such office, but shall not include expenditures made by persons, other than political committees, in the regular course and scope of their business and political messages sent solely to their members.

Any person or political committee making an independent expenditure totaling more than $100, must deliver a notice, in writing, to the City Clerk no later than three (3) business days after the day that such funds are obligated.

Funds are considered to be obligated as soon as an agreement is reached for the provision of the property, materials or services in question, regardless of when payment is to be made for such property or services. All independent expenditures must be documented and all records pertaining to independent expenditures, including but not limited to invoices, receipts, and instruments of payment shall be maintained for one (1) year following any election in which the funds were expended unless a complaint has been filed under Subsection 7-145(a) of the City Code alleging a violation of the provisions of Chapter 7, Article VIII of the Code, or the person or committee has received notice of an investigation or prosecution of a violation of said Article by the City or other law enforcement authority, in which case they shall be maintained until final disposition of the complaint and any consequent court proceedings. Such records shall be made available within three (3) business days upon request of the City and subject to inspection in connection with any hearing held pursuant to this Article.

Independent Expenditure Form (fillable pdf)

Independent Expenditure Form (printable pdf)

Notices of Independent Expenditure filed with the City Clerk, if any, will be posted below:

National Association of Realtors Fund

Citizens for a Sustainable Economy

Cristine Romarine

Sierra Club Political Committee

Joshua Lapin