• Online Campaign Finance Statements
• Overview of the Political Reform Act of 1974
• Fair Political Practices Commission
• Sonoma County Campaign Contribution Ordinance
• Filing Campaign Statements

Pursuant to Government Code §84615 Campaign Reports and Statements - Electronic Filing for Local Agencies, Sonoma County is pleased to offer Campaign Disclosure Statements available via the web, free of charge via SouthTech Systems’ eRetrieval™. You can access the County’s Campaign Statements electronically, 24/7, from the comfort of your own desktop or mobile device!

• Search Online Campaign Disclosure Statements Now

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In 1974, an overwhelming majority of California voters voted for a statewide initiative called Proposition 9, a.k.a. the Political Reform Act of 1974. The law requires detailed disclosure of the role of money in California politics, including the filing of financial statements disclosing contributions received and expenditures made by all of the following:

• All candidates for state and local elective office
• All state and local elected officeholders
• Proponents of state and local ballot measures who control a ballot measure committee
• Committees supporting or opposing state and local candidates
• All measure and petition circulation committees

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The Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is a five-member independent, non-partisan commission that has primary responsibility for the impartial and effective administration of the Political Reform Act. The Act regulates campaign financing, conflicts of interest, lobbying, and governmental ethics.

The Commission’s objectives are to ensure that public officials act in a fair and unbiased manner in the governmental decision-making process, to promote transparency in government, and to foster public trust in the political system.

FPPC Resources

• General Information
  
• FPPC Forms & Manuals
• Filing Deadlines
• How to Get More Help

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For decades, Sonoma County has had an ordinance on the books limiting the amount of money a candidate running for a county office can solicit or accept from a person in an election cycle. The most current iteration of this law is contained in §§2-300 to 2-314 of Article XX of Chapter 2 of the Sonoma County Code of Ordinances.

The ordinance classifies county offices as the following:

• Supervisor
• Clerk-Recorder-Assessor
• Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector
• Sheriff-Coroner
• District Attorney
• County Superintendent of Schools

In 2008, the last time the ordinance was amended by the Board of Supervisors, contributions were capped at $2,500.00, except for election cycles in which more than $10,000 in independent expenditures were made, in which case the cap doubled to $5,000.00. The ordinance also built in an "escalator" which automatically increased the contribution limits by five percent biannually beginning in 2011. To see what the current contribution limits are, please see the table below:

Source: Sonoma County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2 - Administration, Article XX - Campaign Contibution Limits, §§2-300 to 2-314

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When to File

Every candidate and committee must be aware of the filing schedules associated with their specific election. Missing a filing deadline can have serious consequences ranging from monetary penalties, failure to be listed on the ballot, or FPPC enforcement action.

Important: It is the responsibility of the candidate and/or committee to be aware of, and to file, the required campaign disclosure statements in a correct and timely manner.

Important: Government Code §91013 provides for a fine of $10 per day for the late filing of any campaign disclosure statements after the deadline and until the statement is filed.

If you are unsure which filing schedule applies to your election, you can contact the Fair Political Practices Commission for assistance.

• Ask the FPPC for Advice
• When to File Campaign Statements: State and Local Filing Schedules

Where to File

Generally, candidates and committees involved in state elections (constitutional officers, Senate, Assembly, statewide ballot measures) file with the Secretary of State’s office, while those involved in county, city or special district elections file with the local elections office.

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