The definitions set forth in the California Political Reform Act, as it now exists or may be amended (Government Code Sections 81000, et seq.), and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, shall govern the interpretation of this chapter except as to those terms defined in this section:
“Candidate” means an individual: (i) who is listed on the ballot; or (ii) who has qualified to have write-in votes on his or her behalf counted by election officials for nomination or election to the City Council; or (iii) who receives a contribution or makes an expenditure or gives his or her consent for any other person to receive a contribution or make an expenditure with a view to bringing about his or her nomination or election to the City Council, whether or not the specific City Council office for which he or she will seek nomination or election is known at the time the contribution is received or the expenditure is made, and whether or not he or she has announced his or her candidacy or filed a declaration of candidacy at such time. Candidate also includes any member of the City Council who is the subject of a recall effort.
For the purpose of this chapter, a member of the City Council becomes the subject of a recall effort, and therefore becomes a candidate, at such time as the notice of intention to circulate petitions is served on that member. Thereafter, any action taken by a person to advocate the recall of the candidate shall be deemed to be opposing the candidate, and any action taken by a person to oppose the recall of the candidate shall be deemed to be supporting the candidate.
An individual who becomes a candidate shall retain his or her status as a candidate until such time as that status is terminated pursuant to Section 84214 of the California Government Code. Candidate does not include any person within the meaning of Section 301(b) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
(§ 3, Ord. 1592-NS, eff. December 21, 2013)