Candidate Packet Mayor or Council Member City of Gaithersburg 31 S. Summit Avenue Gaithersburg, MD 20877 MEMORANDUM TO: Candidates for Elected Office FROM: Board of Supervisors of Elections DATE: May 6, 2021 SUBJECT: Candidate Packet – Mayor or Council Member This is your Candidate Packet (Packet) for the City of Gaithersburg. All required candidate documents are due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 19, 2021.Please use the Candidate Filing Checklist for guidance to ensure the required and optional items are submitted in the required format prior to the filing deadline. The Office of the City Attorney on the second floor of City Hall, serves as the staff liaison for the Board of Supervisors of Elections, and accepts all filings on behalf of the Board. Please note that all items are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, August 19, 2021. Please review all information and be aware of all deadlines. Please note that the “Candidate Petition Signatures” form in your Packet must contain the original or electronic signatures of at least 100 City residents who are registered voters. A street list has been provided which shows the streets that are within the incorporated City limits. An excel file (via email or CD) of Gaithersburg registered voter data can be obtained through the City for $10 by filing a Maryland public information (MPIA) request. A link to the online request portal is located on the City’s election webpage. Staff will conduct one (1) courtesy review of a petition for candidacy per election cycle between Tuesday, June 1 and Friday, August 6. This review will be conducted using registered voter data as of the first date of the month the review is completed and is not a guarantee of certification of a petition. Please allow up to three (3) business days for staff to process the review. Staff will hold mandatory training sessions for candidates on Tuesday, May 18 and Tuesday, August 102, 021 to address the City’s election laws, campaign regulations, electronic campaign finance report filing information, and to answer any candidate questions about the Election process. Candidates are required to attend one of the training sessions. Due to the sessions being held virtually this year, you must register by 5 p.m. the Friday prior to your desired training session by emailing [email protected]. 1 of 2 During the election cycle, requests are received from the press for information regarding candidates for elected office. The biographical sketch is used for the purpose of providing the press with information on each candidate. It is also requested that you submit a digital color head & shoulder photo suitable for use by the local press. The photo should be 300 dpi minimum at 4x6 in jpg format. Please understand biographical sketch and photo are not mandatory. Should you choose not to provide them, press inquiries will be referred directly to you. In addition, if there are any items of information on the biographical sketch that you do not wish to provide, please leave the space blank. The photo should be emailed to [email protected] by 5 p.m. on Thursday, August 19, 2021. For additional information or questions, please contact Elections Clerk Lauren Klingler at 240-805-1087 or [email protected]. The documents included in the Packet are as follows: 1. Candidate Filing Checklist 2. Important Election Dates 3 Petition of Candidacy for Mayor or Council Member 4. Candidate Petition Signatures 5. Questionnaire for Biographical Sketch 6. Mandatory Candidate Training Information 7. Candidates’ Voter Guide Statements, Website Statements and Television Taping Instructions 8. Electronic Campaign Finance Report Filing Information 9. Campaign Finance Report Schedule and State Campaign Finance Reporting Requirement 10. Chapter 6C of the City Code, Elections 11. Gaithersburg Election Regulations 12. Chapter 7A of the City Code, Ethics 13. Ethics Reporting Requirements for Candidates for Elected Office 14. Financial Disclosure Statement – Candidates for Elected Office 15. Interest or Employment Disclosure- Candidates for Elected Office 16. Chapter 24 of the City Code, Zoning - Article IX. Signs 17. Certificate of Poll Watcher 18. Voting Center and Ballot Box Map 19. Gaithersburg City Street List and City Grid Page 2 of 2 Candidate Filing Checklist Due by 5 p.m. on August 19, 2021 Required Submission Required Format Filed Original Paper or Petition for Candidacy Electronically Filed Original Paper or Candidate Petition Signatures Electronically Filed Financial Disclosure Statement - Candidates for Elected Office Original Paper or Electronically Filed Interest/Employment Disclosure - Candidates for Elected Office Original Paper or Electronically Filed Questionnaire for Biographical Sketch Electronically Filed 100/250 Word Statement (word version) Electronically Filed 4x6 Photograph (300 dpi, jpg format) Electronically Filed Candidate Statement Taping Time/Date Selection Electronically Filed Campaign Finance Reports Electronically Filed Declaration of Campaign Loans Report (if applicable) Electronically Filed Thursday, May 6 Candidate Packets Available 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 18 Mandatory Candidate Training Session #1 Virtual 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 10 Mandatory Candidate Training Session #2 Virtual Thursday, August 19 Deadline to File for Candidacy By 5 p.m. Thursday, August 19 First Pre-General Campaign Financing Reports Due By 5 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Monday, August 23 Certification of Candidates TBD Friday, September 3 Mail-In Ballot Applications and Ballots Available Monday, September 20 Second Pre-General Campaign Financing Reports Due By 5 p.m. Monday, October 11 Third Pre-General Campaign Financing Reports Due By 5 p.m. Monday, October 11 Columbus Day – City Offices Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, October 20 Deadline to File Poll Watchers Certificates: Early Voting By 5 p.m. Friday, October 22 Deadline to Pick-Up Poll Watchers ID Badges: Early Voting By 5 p.m. Saturday, October 23 Early Voting Session – Bohrer Park 10a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, October 24 Early Voting Session – Bohrer Park 10a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, October 25 Fourth Pre-General Campaign Financing Reports Due By 5 p.m. Thursday, October 28 Deadline to File Poll Watchers Certificates: Election Day By 5 p.m. Monday, November 1 Deadline to Pick-Up Poll Watchers ID Badges: Election Day By 5 p.m. Tuesday, November 2 Voter Registration – Same Day Tuesday, November 2 Election Day 7 a.m.-8 p.m. 9 p.m. Tuesday, November 2 Announcement of Unofficial Election Tally Gallery Thursday, November 4 Deadline to Receive Postmarked Mail-In Ballots By 5 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 9 Certification of Election Results TBD Monday, November 15 Deadline to File Recount Petition By 5 p.m. 7:30 p.m. TBD Swearing In Ceremony Council Chambers Tuesday, November 16 Run-Off Election Date (If Necessary) Tuesday, November 16 First Post General Campaign Finance Reports Due By 5 p.m. Friday, December 31 Final Post General & Annual Post General By 5 p.m. Campaign Financing Reports Due PETITION FOR CANDIDACY: ___________________ (Mayor or Council Member) To: The Board of Supervisors of Elections City of Gaithersburg, Maryland I hereby request that you place my name as hereon designated on the official ballot to be used in the 2021 Election in the City of Gaithersburg for the office of ___________________. Please Print: (Legal First, Middle Initial and Last Name. No nicknames or titles.) I DO HEREBY CERTIFY THE FOLLOWING: 1. My name is: 2. I am a registered voter in the City of Gaithersburg. 3. I now reside at: (Address, City & Zip Code) Home Phone: Cell Phone: 4. I am filing with this Petition for Candidacy the signatures of not less than one hundred (100) persons who are registered to vote in the 2021 Election for the City of Gaithersburg, as required by Section 29 of the City Charter. I DO FURTHER CERTIFY: 1. I meet the qualifications for the above stated office, as set forth in Sections 4, 15, and 29 of the City Charter. 2. I am not a candidate for any other elected office in the City of Gaithersburg. ______________________________ ______________________________ Date of this Petition for Candidacy Signature of Candidate THIS PETITION FOR CANDIDACY SHALL BE FILED AT THE OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS ON OR BEFORE 5:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 Candidate Petition Signatures To: The Board of Supervisors of Elections for the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland We, the undersigned, do hereby certify that we are registered to vote in the City of Gaithersburg elections in accordance with Section 27 of the City Charter and, that we do hereby request that the name of the following person __________________________, residing at (Candidate Name) ____________________________________ be placed upon the ballot for office of ____________________for the City of Gaithersburg. (Candidate Address) BOSE No. Date of Birth Printed Name Signature Street Address & Zip Code Use (Month and Day) (First/Middle Initial/Last) Only Total Number of Signatures ______ Number of Invalid Signatures ______ Number of Valid Signatures ______ Page _____ of _____ BOSE: __________ Candidate Petition Signatures Candidate Name: _______________________________ for Office of _________________________ BOSE No. Date of Birth Printed Name Signature Street Address & Zip Code Use (Month and Day) (First/Middle Initial/Last) Only Total Number of Signatures ______ Number of Invalid Signatures ______ Number of Valid Signatures ______ Page _____ of _____ BOSE: __________ Questionnaire for Biographical Sketch Name: (as it will appear on the ballot) Address: Preferred Phone: Email Address: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: How many years have you lived in: Maryland Montgomery County City of Gaithersburg Marital Status: Spouse’s Name: Names & Ages of Children: Education (including name, location and degree(s) earned) High School: College(s): Other: 1 Military Service (Branch/Years/Highest Rank Attained): Name & Location of Current Employer: Title or Business Affiliation: Experience in Municipal, County, State or Federal Government: Organizations, Committees, Clubs, etc.