NOTICE OF NOVEMBER 4 ELECTION

OCEANSIDE'S GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION
November 4, 2008

Oceanside's General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. There are two (2) Council seats, one (1) Mayor, one (1) City Clerk and one (1) City Treasurer open for election. For those interested in running for elected office, the candidate filing period begins July 14, 2008. More information on the filing period will be provided at a later date.

To be eligible as a potential candidate, you must be an Oceanside resident, 18 years of age or older and a registered voter of the City. All Oceanside seats are "at-large," meaning there are no districts within the City. The seats are also nonpartisan. For more information on the filing period, please read the article "Candidate Filing Information."

CANDIDATE FILING INFORMATION
NOVEMBER 4, 2008 GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION

For prospective Candidates for Elected City Office: You need to file a Candidate Intention Statement (Form 501) with the City Clerk as soon as you have decided to run for elected office. The form must be filed before you solicit or receive contributions and before you spend any funds on your campaign, including personal funds.

Only during the candidate filing period can you receive the official nomination papers from the City Clerk's Office, located at 300 North Coast Highway, north building, 2nd floor. The nomination paper will ask for your name, address and the occupation to be listed on the ballot. Additionally, you must collect the signatures of a minimum of 20 (maximum of 30) qualified registered voters of Oceanside wishing to nominate you as a Council candidate.

At the time you obtain your nomination papers, you will be advised and receive information on the pertinent deadlines and procedures involved in running for an elected office. A Candidate Handbook will also be provided, containing the required information and forms to be completed. Please call 435-3000 for an appointment, allowing approximately 45 minutes for briefing/instructions and issuance of papers.

There is a $25 nonrefundable filing fee that is collected when you return your nomination papers to the City Clerk. That fee is used to offset the cost of validating the signatures collected. Once it has been determined that 20 valid signatures have been verified, you then become a qualified candidate whose name will appear on the election ballot.

Caution: For those potential candidates planning to expend or receive more than $1,000, be aware that there are documents and forms that must first be filed. Therefore, prior to any such expenditures or contributions, please contact the City Clerk’s office regarding the current election laws covering campaign funds. For this or other information on becoming a candidate for this election, please call the City Clerk's Office at (760) 435-3000 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every other Friday).

Running for office should not be taken lightly. Becoming an elected official is a serious commitment. To those serious about such an important and high level of involvement and decision-making, we express our appreciation for your efforts and commitment to positively improving our City.

More election information, including when and where political signs may be placed in the City, will be provided closer to the election date.