Run for Office
Who Can Run for Elective Office?
- To run for office, you must be a U.S. citizen, a resident within the City limits, and at least 18 years old.
- For a Citywide office (Mayor or Treasurer), you must be a registered voter within the City limits at the time nomination papers are issued throughout the term of office.
- For a City Council District Office, you must be a registered voter within the district you want to serve at the time nomination papers are issued throughout the term of office.
Potential candidates are required to gather twenty valid signatures of registered Morgan Hill voters on a mandatory nomination form supplied by the City Clerk.
Based on an established schedule, candidates must file statements reporting all campaign contributions and expenditures for the designated time period. These reports are available online and in the City Clerk’s Office for public review.
Terms
In Morgan Hill, the Mayor is directly elected at large to serve a 2-year term. City Council members are elected by district to serve a 4-year term. The City Treasurer is elected at-large to serve a 4-year term.
Candidate Forms
Candidates must obtain and complete the official nomination documents that are issued by the Office of the City Clerk. This is done during the official nomination period by appointment only. For a Special Election, the nomination period will vary depending on the date of the Special Election. Please contact the Office of the City Clerk for more information. Nomination forms are issued at no charge.
Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except for City holidays. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at 408-779-7259 or cityclerk@morganhill.ca.gov. A candidate should be prepared to provide their name and residential address for validation of current voter registration and eligibility status. Prospective candidates are encouraged to review the Candidate Instructional Guide prior to their scheduled appointment.
Candidate Instructional Guide
The nomination instructions are fully contained in the Candidate Instructional Guide. Please note this guide will be updated prior to each election. This information is provided to assist candidates in understanding the requirements necessary to run for municipal office. The manual is provided as a guide and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional services. Samples in this manual are not official forms and are provided for illustrative purposes only. Official forms are available only from the City Clerk.
Campaign Contributions
The City Council adopted Resolution 20-061 accepting and defaulting to the State of California's campaign contribution limits. The campaign contribution limits are as follows:
| Contributor Sources | ||
| Person (individual, business entity, committee/PAC) | Small Contributor Committee | Political Party |
| $4,900 | $4,900 | $4,900 |
For more details visit the Fair Political Practices Commission Contribution Limits Webpage.