(a) To be eligible to receive public matching funds, a candidate for mayor or city council must meet the requirements of the City Charter; and during the campaign period:
(1) For the office of mayor, receive three hundred (300) contributions of ten dollars ($10.00) or more;
(2) For the office of city council, receive two hundred (200) contributions of ten dollars ($10.00) or more.
(b) For purposes of establishing eligibility under this section, only those contributions received from residents of the City of Tucson shall be counted toward the requirement.
(c) Candidates must submit evidence of meeting the eligibility requirements of this section to the office of the campaign finance administrator for verification. Upon verification of eligibility, a candidate who has signed a campaign contract shall be eligible to receive public matching funds; provided that no such funds shall be disbursed to any qualified candidate prior to January 1 of the year in which the candidate's election is to be held and, provided further, that any candidate who receives public matching funds and later fails to file for public office or withdraws as a candidate after filing shall, no later than ten (10) days following such event, return to the election campaign account an amount equal to the public funds disbursed to that candidate.
(Ord. No. 6300, § 1, eff. 3-4-86)