Elections: candidate's statement: nonpartisan office.

Existing law permits each candidate for a nonpartisan elective office in a local government agency to prepare a candidate's statement for publication in the voter's pamphlet sent to voters prior to the election. Existing law requires that the candidate's statement be limited to a recitation of the candidate's own personal background and qualifications and not make reference to other candidates for that office or to another candidate's qualifications, character, or activities. This bill would further prohibit the statement of a candidate for a nonpartisan local office from containing a pledge, promise, or commitment with respect to a matter that could come before the candidate in the office to which he or she is seeking election. In addition, the bill would require that the statement of the candidate's personal background and qualifications be limited to objective, verifiable facts concerning the candidate's experiences, accomplishments, and credentials and not include references to the candidate's beliefs, ideas, ideology, viewpoints, or campaign platform. The bill would also require that each voter's pamphlet contain a notice informing the voter that each candidate's statement has been prepared solely by, and contains the representations solely of, that candidate and has not been independently verified by the elections official or any other government official or agency. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.