MUNICIPAL ELECTION – May 11, 2010


Dear Prospective Candidate:

The following contains important information that will assist you with the process of becoming qualified as a candidate for the Office of Council Member and Mayor in the May 11, 2010 Municipal Election.  Please note that on Monday, January 4, 2010, beginning at 12:00 P.M. (NOON), a packet containing the appropriate instructions, together with pertinent petition(s) and other required forms will be made available in the Office of the City Clerk, Room 309 ONLY – City Hall, 920 Broad Street, Newark.

CANDIDACY REQUIREMENTS:

Office of the Mayor and Council Member-At-Large

1.    A registered voter of the City of Newark
2.    A resident of the City of Newark for at least one (1) year prior to the election

Ward Council Member

1.    A registered voter of the Ward you wish to represent
2.    A resident of the Ward you wish to represent for at least one (1) year prior to the election

PLEASE NOTE:  YOUR NAME AS IT APPEARS ON YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS SHALL BE THE SAME ON ALL FORMS AND PETITIONS.  FURTHER, YOUR NAME AS IT APPEARS ON YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS WILL BE THE WAY YOUR NAME APPEARS ON THE BALLOT.


ELECTION PETITIONS

Each signature shall be on a separate petition and shall bear the name and address of the petitioner.  Each petitioner shall not, at the time of signing the petition, have signed more petitions for candidates for that office than there are places to be filled for the office.  As an example, a resident who is a registered voter in the City of Newark may sign only one candidate’s petition for the Office of the Mayor and for a Ward Council Member in his/her respective ward.   However, the same resident may sign up to four (4) petitions for the Office of Council Member At-Large.

The prospective candidate and his/her campaign manager must appear in person in the Office of the City Clerk to complete necessary documents. While the prospective candidate and his/her campaign manager may appear separately, no petitions will distributed until the prospective candidate has appeared.  During their initial appearance the prospective candidate and the campaign manager will be required to provide photo identification. The prospective candidate’s identification must contain proof of residency.

Only the candidate for office or the campaign manager may return the signed petitions and/or request and receive additional petitions. Additional petitions will only be distributed after the initial filing of the minimum number of petitions required as reference hereto below.

The candidate for office and his/her campaign manager shall file an oath that the statements made in the petition are true and that each signature appended thereto is the genuine signature of the person whose name it purports to be, to their best knowledge and belief.

NUMBER OF PETITIONS REQUIRED
(1% of registered voters at the last General Election)

(A voter signing a petition in support of Mayor/At-Large Candidate is required to be a resident of Newark)

(A voter signing a petition in support of a Ward candidate is required to be a resident of that Ward)

Number of signatures of registered voters required:

MAYOR                                                                                             1,342
(White Petitions)                                                          
Voters may sign for ONE candidate only
        
COUNCIL MEMBER-AT-LARGE                                                 1,342
(Green Petitions)
Voters may sign for FOUR candidates only                 

COUNCIL MEMBER THE FROM NORTH WARD                        292
(Blue Petitions)
Voters may sign for ONE candidate only
   
COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THE EAST WARD                             151
(Gray Petitions)
Voters may sign for ONE candidate only                                 

COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THE WEST WARD                             272
(Pink Petitions)                                                            
Voters May sign for ONE candidate only

COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THE SOUTH WARD                            325
(Goldenrod Petitions)
Voters may sign for ONE candidate only

COUNCIL MEMBER FROM CENTRAL WARD                             303
(Yellow Petitions)
Voters may sign for ONE candidate only

STANDARD COLORS, WEIGHT OF PAPER AND SIZE OF PETITIONS REPRESENTING THE PARTICULAR OFFICE SHALL BE ADHERED TO.

PETITIONS MUST BE FILED ON OR BEFORE 4:00 P.M., March 18, 2010, IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK, ROOM 309 ONLY.

Please be reminded that the initial submission of petitions must contain at least the number of required signatures as hereinabove specified.  Additional petitions, if necessary, may be submitted up to March 18, 2010 (the last day for filing).

Notice:      All candidates are required by law to comply with the provisions of “N.J. Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act.”  For further information please call the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission at (609) 292-8700 or (888) 313-3532.


Very truly yours,

Robert Marasco
City Clerk

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