Chapter 1.36
VOLUNTARY CODE OF FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES

Sections:

1.36.010  Findings.

1.36.020  Purpose.

1.36.030  Qualification for compliance.

1.36.010 Findings.

The city council finds as follows:

A. There are basic principles of honesty, fairness, responsibility and respect to which every candidate for public office should adhere in order to be worthy of the public office that that candidate seeks.

B. Campaign communications should present only information that is fair, relevant and truthful to the voters for their consideration.

C. Candidates who fall short of adhering to such principles alienate the public from the electoral process and erode the public’s trust and confidence in the offices that those candidates seek.

D. Electoral campaigns are subject to unacceptable levels of negativism, attack advertising and other practices that demean representative democracy and undermine elected officials’ ability to serve in the public interest.

E. Negative, attack-oriented campaigns are a major factor in the growing cynicism, alienation and nonparticipation among American voters, striking at the heart of the American system of government.

F. Candidates have a responsibility to conduct civil, issue-oriented debates with fellow candidates and provide opponents with a meaningful opportunity to respond to any claims concerning their positions or qualifications to hold office.

G. Candidates for public office should have the ability to conduct clean and ethical campaigns. (Ord. 07-01 § 1).

1.36.020 Purpose.

The city council enacts this chapter to accomplish the following purposes:

A. To promote the principles of honesty, fairness, responsibility and respect in campaigning for public office.

B. To promote campaign communications to the public that are fair, relevant and truthful.

C. To induce candidates to adhere to principles which enhance the electoral process and build the public’s trust and confidence.

D. To eliminate unacceptable levels of negativism, attack advertising and other practices that demean representative democracy and undermine an elected official’s ability to serve the public interest.

E. To promote responsible civil conduct and issue-oriented debates.

F. To promote candidates for public office to conduct clean and ethical campaigns. (Ord. 07-01 § 1).

1.36.030 Qualification for compliance.

A candidate (or controlled committees of such candidates running for office or a committee formed for the purpose of a recall) qualifies as a participating candidate for an election campaign period if the following requirements are met:

A. The candidate voluntarily endorses, subscribes to, and solemnly pledges to conduct his or her campaign in accordance with the current version of the Benicia Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

B. The candidate will immediately and publicly repudiate those who take actions that either help a candidate’s candidacy or hurt an opponent’s candidacy, which are inconsistent with the Benicia Code of Fair Campaign Practices.

C. At the time an individual files his or her declaration of candidacy, nomination papers, or any other paper evidencing an intention to be a candidate for public office, the elections official shall give the individual a blank form of the Benicia Code of Fair Campaign Practices and a copy of this chapter. The elections official shall inform each candidate for public office that subscription to the code is voluntary.

D. If the candidate agrees to voluntarily endorse, subscribe to, and solemnly pledge to conduct their campaign in accordance with the current version of the Benicia Code of Fair Campaign Practices:

1. The cost for setup and printing of each candidate’s statement will be borne by the city; and

2. The cost of printing the statement of qualifications in English and inspection costs to determine the accuracy and legal form of the nomination papers shall be borne by the city.

E. Candidates for public office who do not voluntarily endorse, subscribe to, and solemnly pledge to conduct their campaign in accordance with the current version of the Benicia Code of Fair Campaign Practices will be responsible for any and all cost for the setup and printing of each candidate’s statement and the printing of the statement of qualifications in English and inspection costs to determine the accuracy and legal form of the nomination papers. (Ord. 07-01 § 1).