Campaign Finance Information

The Political Reform Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission administers provisions of California’s Political Reform Act, including the law’s most fundamental purpose of ensuring that “receipts and expenditures in election campaigns should be fully and truthfully disclosed in order that the voters may be fully informed and the activities of lobbyists should be regulated and their finances disclosed…”

The Political Reform Act was adopted as a statewide initiative (Proposition 9) by an overwhelming vote of the electorate in 1974. The law requires detailed disclosure of the role of money in California politics. This includes the disclosure of contributions and expenditures in connection with campaigns supporting or opposing state and local candidates and ballot measures as well as the disclosure of expenditures made in connection with lobbying the State Legislature and attempting to influence administrative decisions of state government. (http://sos.ca.gov/campaign-lobbying)

Campaign Disclosure Filings

The City Clerk is the City of Sonoma’s filing officer with whom candidates and committees involved in local elections file their campaign statements by specified deadlines. Campaign finance disclosure forms are public records and are available for viewing on this website or in person at the Sonoma Office of the City Clerk.

Candidates and committees must also file certain campaign statements with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) of California.

As these statements are filed, they will be posted here. This will ensure a high level of transparency and accountability so that voters and members of the public can be fully informed.

California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) Regulations

The Political Reform Act requires candidates and committees to file campaign statements by specified deadlines disclosing contributions received and expenditures made. Missing a filing deadline can have serious consequences ranging from monetary penalties, failure to be listed on the ballot, or FPPC enforcement action.  These documents may be audited by the FPPC and Franchise Tax Board (FTB) to ensure that voters are fully informed and improper practices prohibited.

It is the responsibility of candidates and committees to understand the rules regulating their campaigns in California.  Please review the Candidate Toolkit provided by FPPC.