ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: City Clerk Item No: D1
Prepared by: Kathy Valdez, City Clerk Meeting Date: June 23, 2026 Approved by: John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Discussion S
UBJECT: REGULATIONS FOR CANDIDATE STATEMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS FOR THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
RE
COMMENDATION:
1. Establish the maximum number of words, 200 or 400, to be permitted in a Candidate’s Statement of Qualifications for the offices of Mayor and Member of the City Council on the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election.
2. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 2026- , adopting regulations for Candidates’ Statements to be s
ubmitted to the voters for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election.
CO
RRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: Routine operational item not directly corresponding to a specific City Council goal.
P
RIOR ACTION: None.
S
TATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: California Elections Code Section 13307(a) permits each candidate in any local election to prepare a Candidate Statement of Q ualifications to be printed in the voter information pamphlet, no longer than 200 words, unless the local agency authorizes statements up to 400 words. Section 13307(d) permits the local agency to charge the candidate an estimated pro rata share of the cost for language translation and printing the statement in the V oter Information Pamphlet. Cities in San Diego County are required to translate candidates' statements into Spanish, Filipino, Chinese, and Vietnamese, and to have the translations available upon request. All cities in San Diego County that consolidate their elections with the County share translation costs.
I
n accordance with Vista Municipal Code Section 1.08.020 , the City Clerk has prepared a cost estimate for City Council review prior to opening of nominations. The San Diego County Registrar of Voters has estimated the November 3, 2026, costs to be $1,300 for a 200-word statement and $2,000 for a 400-word statement. If the City Council chooses to authorize a 400 word statement, all candidates would be subject to the estimated $2,000 fee or need to opt out of submitting a Candidate Statement of Qualification.
Ca
lifornia Elections Code Section 13307(c) provides that if a local agency determines that a charge shall be levied against each candidate, that decision cannot be revoked or modified after the seventh day prior to the opening of the Nomination Period. The Nomination Period for the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election opens on July 1 3, 2026. Therefore, the last date the City Council could take any action is July 6 , 2026.
AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
1) Established the maximum number of words, 400, to be permitted in a Candidate's Statement of Qualifications for the offices of Mayor and Member of the City Council on the November 3, 2026, General Municipal Election.
2) Adopted City Council Resolution No. 2026-120. Vote: 4-0 (O'Donnell absent)