A. A candidate shall qualify to receive payments from the Campaign Reform Fund for a primary or special election only if he or she meets all of the following requirements:
1. The candidate has filed a statement of acceptance of financing and has not rescinded such statement;
2. The candidate has raised and deposited in the candidate's campaign contribution account, after the first day of the primary election period or the special election period, as those terms are defined in Section 2.13.040, at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) if a candidate for mayor, and at least seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500.00) if a candidate for a city council position, consisting of contributions totaling two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) or less per source from sources other than themselves, their spouses or their dependent children;
3. The candidate is opposed by a candidate who has qualified for payments from the Campaign Reform Fund or who has raised or deposited in his or her campaign contribution account contributions of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or more if a candidate for mayor, or seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500.00) or more, if a candidate for a city council position; and
4. The candidate has filed a statement agreeing to participate in at least one public forum at which all opponents of the candidate who qualified for the ballot are invited to participate. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the failure of a candidate to participate in at least one such public forum shall not be deemed a misdemeanor or infraction, shall not be the basis of any criminal or civil liability and shall not alter or affect the right of the candidate to receive matching public funds under this chapter to the extent he/she otherwise meets the requirements to receive such matching public funds.
B. All candidates in a general election who have filed a statement of acceptance of financing, have not rescinded such statement, and who meet the requirements of this section shall be entitled to receive payments from the Campaign Reform Fund.
C. For purposes of determining whether a candidate has raised the minimum amount specified in subsection (A)(2) of this section, the first two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) of any contribution that exceeds two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) shall be counted, and the remainder shall not.
D. For purposes of determining whether a candidate has raised the minimum amount specified in subsection (A)(2) of this section, a loan, pledge, extension of credit, or a non-monetary contribution shall not be considered a contribution.
E. For purposes of determining whether a candidate has raised the minimum amount specified in subsection (A)(2) of this section, the provisions of Sections 2.13.060 and 2.13.090 relating to aggregation of contributions shall apply to the determination of the source of a contribution. (Ord. 2005-071 § 5; Ord. 2003-046 § 1)