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Contact the City Clerk or County Clerk for information
about running for office. Filing deadline was noon on January 25, 2011.
Filing Location - Candidates may file with the county
election officer. Within three days from the filing of a nomination
petition or declaration of intention to become a candidate for
city office, the county election officer shall determine the
validity of such petition or declaration. If the petition or
declaration is found to be invalid, the county clerk shall notify
the candidate and provide the reason for the finding. The candidate
may object to the finding of invalidity in accordance with K.S.A.
25-308. (K.S.A. 25-2110 & 25-2110a)
Qualifications - An individual seeking elected city
office must be a "qualified elector." This means that
the person must be a registered voter in the city at the time
of the election. (K.S.A 14-109; 15-2009; and Attorney General
Opinion No. 90-66)
Fees - Each filing must be accompanied by the appropriate
filing fee or petition. (K.S.A. 25-2110 & 25-2110a) The fee
in Cottonwood Falls is $5 or a petition signed by 25 qualified
electors or a number of electors not less than 10% of the ballots
cast at the last general city election, whichever is less.
Statement of Substantial Interest - Within 10 days
after the filing deadline for the office sought, each candidate
for local office must file a statement of substantial interest.
If the individual becomes a candidate after the filing deadline
for the office, the statement of substantial interest must be
filed within 5 days of becoming a candidate. The statement should
be filed in the same office where the individual filed the statement
declaring candidacy for the local office. (K.S.A. 75-4302a)
Non-Partisan - City elections in Kansas are non-partisan.
Expenses - Candidates who do not intend to spend an
aggregate amount of $500 must file an affidavit of such intent
with the county election officer by February 22, 2009. If less
than $500 is actually expended, no report need be filed. If more
that $500 is expended, an itemized campaign finance statement
must be filed with the county election officer within 30 days
of the primary or general election. (K.S.A. 25-904). In
In addition, changes made during the 2008 Legislative Session
requires a report of each person who has made one or more contributions
of $300 or more in the period commencing 11 days before a primary
or general election at which a local officer is to be elected
and ending at 11:59 p.m. on the Wednesday preceding the date
of the election. Such report shall be filed on or before the
close of business on the Thursday preceding the date of the election
and shall contain the name and address of the contributor along
with the amount and date of the contribution (2008 Kansas Session
Laws, Chapter 166)
Primary - March 1, 2011 - The top two vote getters
for an office will move on to the general election. Write-in
candidates are not allowed in the primary. (K.S.A. 25-2102 &
25-2110a)
A primary election shall only be held if needed to reduce
the number of candidates for each office in the general election
to no more than three candidates. No primary election shall be
held unless 10 or more candidates file for the position of city council member.
General Election - April 5, 2011 - City general elections
are held on the first Tuesday in April in odd-numbered years.
Canvass - April 8, 2011 - The county commissioners
canvass the votes on the Friday following the election. The county
election officer may move the canvass to Monday, April 11, 2011,
if notice is published prior to the canvass in a newspaper with
general circulation in the county. (K.S.A. 25-3104)
Certification - The county election official submits
a certification of the election to the governing body. (K.S.A.
25-2120 & 25-3110)
Swearing In - - City officials must be sworn in at
the first regular meeting of the governing body following certification
of the election results. (K.S.A. 25-2120)
Oath of Office - An oath of office must be taken and
signed by elected officials. The city clerk should maintain a
copy of these oaths. (K.S.A. 25-2120 & 54-106)
Updating Statement of Substantial Interest - Elected
officials must update the statement of substantial interest that
they filed as a candidate between April 15th ad April 30th when
there is any change during the preceding year.
Campaigning on Public Property - No city officer or
employee shall use or authorize the use of public funds, vehicles,
machinery, equipment, supplies, or the compensated time of any
office or employee to expressly advocate the nomination, election,
or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for state or local
office. (K.S.A. 25-4169a)
Training for Newly Elected Officials - The League of
Kansas Municipalities is sponsoring a Governing Body Institute
May 13-14 in Topeka. The two day event will bring together newly
elected city officials and experienced public servants for important
networking and training sessions. The The Institute will lick
off on Friday evening, May 13, with a social event and update
on the 2011 Legislative Session. The training portion of the
event will be held on Saturday, May 14. All participants will
receive the newly revised Governing Body Handbook.
Other Training Opportunities - The League of Kansas
Municipalities also sponsors the LKM Annual Conference. Approximately
1,100 attendees participate each year. The general sessions,
workshops, roundtables, and social events offered during the
conference provide the perfect atmosphere for educational and
networking opportunities.
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