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How to prepare to run for Santa Rosa City Council
Summary
A concise guide from Santa Rosa City explaining the early steps to run for city council: where to find your district, what filings the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) requires, and which forms (Form 501 and Form 410) may be submitted before the nomination period.
Moderator opened an informational video for prospective candidates, saying the episode will focus on precandidacy preparation for the Santa Rosa City Council.
The Presenter explained the starting point for anyone considering a run: “If you're curious about candidacy, you wanna start with some basic research,” and directed viewers to the city's online district lookup at srcity.org/findmydistrict. The video noted that the upcoming election date and which council districts are up for election are shown on-screen and available through the city’s election resources.
On legal and filing requirements, the Presenter framed the obligations under state law: “The Fair Political Practices Commission, or FPPC, enforces California campaign finance, ethics, and disclosure laws, and requires filing certain paperwork during candidacy.” The video recommended the FPPC candidate toolkit and other FPPC resources for campaign finance guidance and compliance.
The Presenter also gave concrete, time-sensitive filing guidance: “You can complete Form 501, Statement of Intent, and Form 410, Statement of Organization. Both of these forms are required by the Fair Political Practices Commission, and can be submitted before the nomination period begins.” The video urged candidates to consult the FPPC checklist and campaign basics documents to keep track of these requirements.
The series will conclude with a final video covering the nomination period and the official window when candidates are issued paperwork to file for office. Viewers were directed to srcity.org/elections for additional resources, and the Presenter said, “If you have any additional questions about candidacy, feel free to reach out to the city clerk's office.”
The video served as a practical primer on who to contact and which preliminary FPPC forms candidates can complete before the formal nomination window.
