Gilroy outlines rules, outreach and campaign finance questions as it shifts to district elections

Gilroy officials used a community meeting to walk residents through the city ecision to move from at-large elections to district-based council seats, clarified filing and residency rules and opened discussion on campaign finance limits and outreach plans.

The mayor and staff said the city settled on a district map after months of public meetings and consultant input; the first three district seats will be part of the 2026 election cycle. The city advised residents to consult the posted map during the meeting to confirm their district, and staff noted the nomination period will open July 13 with papers to be filed by August 8.

Officials clarified residency requirements after an earlier misstatement: a candidate must be registered to vote at an address in the district for at least 30 days before filing nomination papers, and the city clerk—arlier receives nomination paperwork and attendant affidavits. "The city clerk's office is the one who first…