Campaign Finance

Following is a list of required forms and important information to read and review to run for local elected office. All reports are filed in the City Clerk's Office - be sure to keep a copy for your records. When filling in the forms, please make sure that all writing is legible.

Campaign Finance

Information for Citywide and Aldermanic Offices

  1. Corporate contributions are prohibited.
  2. Loans are contributions, and are subject to contribution limits.
  3. A maximum of $100 may be accepted in cash.
  4. Anonymous contributions are limited to $10 or less per donor.
  5. Candidate committees are prohibited from accepting certain types of contributions and contributions from certain persons. Best practice: Do not accept any contributions if you cannot determine whether the contribution is lawful.
  6. In-kind contributions are reported as both a receipt (who) and expenditure (what) to prevent a cash balance discrepancy.
  7. Candidate committees must report all contributions, disbursements, loans, and obligations received, made, and incurred by the committee. Each report needs to include information covering the period since the last date covered on the previous report.
  8. For the purposes of calculating contribution limits, a new candidate's campaign begins on the date they become a candidate. The campaign period includes both the primary and general election and ends the day before the winning candidate begins their term of office. For an incumbent candidate, the new campaign period begins on the day the candidate assumes office, runs through the primary and general election for that office and ends the day before the winning candidate begins their term of office.
  9. Committees may be eligible for an exemption from filing campaign finance reports if campaign finance activity is low enough to meet the following criteria:
    • The committee anticipates that it will not accept or make contributions, make disbursements, or incur loans and other obligations in an aggregate amount of more than $2,500 in a calendar year. This includes the candidate's personal funds contributed and spent on campaign expenses.
    • The candidate or treasurer must sign and date the request for exemption on the Campaign Registration Statement (CF-1) . A committee that is eligible for an exemption may file at any time.
    • A local candidate claiming exemption can remain on exemption until they exceed the threshold or request termination.
  10. All disbursements must be made for political purposes.
    • Information required for all disbursements over $20: date disbursement was made, name and address of person to whom disbursement was made; and purpose of the disbursement.
    • Small amounts of $20 or less may be reported as unitemized (disbursements only) 11.0204(1)(a)8.