Commission Candidate Guidelines

Commission Candidates Guidelines | Cocoa Beach, FL - Official Website

Commission Candidates Guidelines | Cocoa Beach, FL - Official Website Skip to Main Content Info Alert After Hours City Emergency? Read on... Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Website Sign In Home Government Departments City Clerk Elections Commission Candidate Guidelines Commission Candidates Guidelines What You Need to Know to Run for Mayor or City Commissioner City Elections Overview City elections are held in even-numbered years. The City Code provides for staggered City Commission seat elections: Seats 1, 2, and 3 appear on one election ballot. (Next Election 2028) Seats 4 and 5 appear on the following election cycle. (Next Election 2026) Commissioners and the Mayor run at-large, though each position is elected to a designated seat. The term of office is four years. Step-by-Step: 1. Qualifications to Run for Elected City Office To be eligible to run for City Commission, a candidate must: Be a resident of the City and have continuously lived within city limits for at least one year prior to filing for a commission seat. Be a registered voter. 2. Become a Declared Candidate Before the official Candidate Qualifying Period, individuals wishing to run for office must: File all required “Declare to Run” forms with the City Clerk. DSDE 09 - Declare to Run DSDE 84 - Statement of Candidate Florida Election Code 2025 After the City Clerk date-stamps your declaration forms, you must open an Election Campaign Account at a bank. Bring a copy of Form DSDE 09 to the bank to open the account. Important: A campaign account cannot be opened until the Designation of Campaign Treasurer and Campaign Depository form has been filed with the City Clerk. The campaign treasurer must submit monthly reports to the City Clerk by the end of the day per the election calendar due date. Treasurer Report Calendar 2026 Election 3. To Appear on the Election Ballot These items must be completed within the time frame provided as no late packets will be accepted. During the official Candidate Qualifying Period,(Per City Code, Section 7-1), Noon, August 3, 2026 - Noon, August 7, 2026 the candidate must submit all required Qualifying Forms to the City Clerk. Appointment of Treasurer (DS-DE 9) Statement of Candidate (DS-DE 84) Qualifying Oath of Candidate DS-DE 302NP) City Loyalty Oath Financial Disclosure: To File for Qualifying go to Electronic Financial Disclosure to file Form 1. Select, "I am a Candidate", if you already file, bring a print out of your 2025 Financial Disclosure Letter on Logic and Accuracy Test Letter on Removal of Signs Candidate Bio All Qualifying Fees must be paid from the Election Campaign Account. The Candidate must pay filing fees: City $50 and State $60 (1% of Salary) for a total of $110 paid from Candidate Campaign Account. 4. 2026 Treasurer Reports; Calendars Following the submittal of the qualifying forms, candidates/treasurers are required to submit periodic treasurer reports following Florida Laws, the Election calendars, and using the required forms. Treasurer Report Calendar 2026 Election DS-DE 9 Appointment of Treasurer DS-DE 12 Campaign Treasurer Report Summary - must be submitted, if there were Contributions/Expenditures, and not needed if there is a Waiver of Report DS-DE 13 Campaign Treasurer Report - Itemized Contributions DS-DE 14 Campaign Treasurer Report - Itemized Expenditures DS-DE 02 Contributions Returned DS-DE73 Campaign Loans Report DS-DE87 Waiver of Report - No Contributions/Expenditures 5. Election Resources, Laws Florida Election Code, Chapter 97-106 Request Voter Registration Data - Brevard County Supervisor of Elections 2026 Candidate Campaign Treasurer Handbook Political Signs Regulations City Code Sign Standards - The City does not assess a Sign Permit fee Sign Permit - even though the City Code requires a permit, the City is not requiring one for political signage. A permit is not required provided the size, location and amount are in compliance with the requirements for temporary signs in section 5-10. [Land Development Code 5-03 C.] *Permit required for signs exceeding a maximum of two signs with a total of 6 square feet for each sign on residential sites, and two signs with a total of 9 square feet for each sign on non-residential sites. [Land Development Code 5-10 D. & E.] Note: There is no permit fee for temporary political signage Sign inspection - Inspection may be required if the square footage exceeds the maximums provided under Land Development Code 5-10 D. & E. Removal of Signage - signage can remain up all throughout the primary and general elections. Temporary signs shall be removed within three (3) days after the date upon which the sign has fulfilled its purpose [Land Development Code 5-10 B.] Florida Department of Transportation Political Signs on Right of Way - State Roads (SRA1A and SR520)