City Council Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to run for Kirkland City Council, you must be a registered voter at the time of filing (with King County Elections) and have lived in Kirkland city limits for at least one year prior to the election.
Campaign Contribution Limits
The Kirkland City Council approved Ordinance No. 4190 (PDF) which sets dollar limits on the size of contributions a Kirkland City Council candidate may receive during an election cycle. The Ordinance is codified as Kirkland Municipal Code Chapter 3.12 and relies largely on the relevant definitions found in state law and on the interpretations of these definitions provided by rule or order of the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission.
Common questions about Ordinance No. 4190 are listed below: Are there limits on the acceptance of contributions by Kirkland City Council candidates?Yes there are limits. As of May 2, 2009, a City Council candidate may not accept a contribution of more than $800 from any person (individual, business, or corporation). The $800 limit is in effect through the 2009 Election Cycle.
The contribution limit is the same as that established by the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) for King County office candidates. From time to time, the PDC will adjust the limits. To see the current contribution limit set by the PDC,
visit the PDC website
; click on the link to “Filer Resources,” select “State Contribution Limits” under “2009 Elections” (on the right-hand lower corner of the page).
With State and Federal Elections, contribution limits apply separately to the primary and general elections. Is it the same with the City?”No, it is not the same. The $800 limit applies to the entire election cycle, there is not a separate limit for the primary and another limit for the general.
What’s the Election Cycle?The election cycle means the combination of the general or special and the primary election and begins on the date when an individual becomes a candidate and ends when the candidate files his or her final report pursuant to
RCW 42.17.350.Are there exceptions to the contribution limits?Yes. There are exceptions to the contributions dollar limit for: contributions from a candidate’s own resources; the value of volunteer services; and, with some limitations, surplus funds. Please see
Kirkland Municipal Code 3.12.040 (Ordinance No. 4190) (PDF).