Qualifications 

"No person shall be eligible to hold any elected office in the City unless he be a resident elector therein and shall have resided in such City for at least thirty (30) days next preceding the date of his filing of nomination papers." - City of Torrance Charter

• Elections are held in June of even numbered years on the statewide primary date.
• Candidates run at large.  There are no district elections.
• Candidates receiving the highest number of votes are seated.
• There are no primary elections and no run-off elections.
• Tie votes are decided by process chosen by Council prior to each election.
• The City of Torrance has 77,247 registered voters.  (January 2010)

Offices

Office	Term Limits	Position
Council  6 seats with staggered terms Mayor elected separately	2  4-year terms Councilmembers who have served 2 full terms must wait 4 years before being eligible to run. Councilmembers appointed or elected in an off time may serve balance of term plus two terms	Part-time - Compensation $100/mo Council receives for reimbursement for qualified expenses including mileage Resolutions 2007-102, 2006-76, 2006-77, & 2006-78 Travel expenses for conferences and other business (limited) Insurance benefits (life & health) PERS (Public Employee Retirement System)
City Clerk City Treasurer	no term limits	Full time Department Head

Duties of Office

The function of the City Council is to develop policies that the City implements,  The Council passes laws referred to as ordinances, adopts the budget, authorizes expenditures, approves fees, secures revenues, plans for long-range development of the community and makes zoning and land use decisions, acts as the Redevelopment Agency and as the appellate body for decisions made by Commissions.

The City Clerk attends all City Council meetings as Clerk of the Council, is responsible for the safekeeping of the official City records, is guardian of the City seal, serves as the elections official and conducts municipal elections.

The City Treasurer is responsible for the receipt and deposit of all city monies and the investment of funds as prescribed by the City's Investment Policy.  In addition the City Treasurer is the Plan Administrator of the City of Torrance Deferred Compensation Plans.

Election

 The next regular Torrance Municipal Election will be scheduled for June 8, 2010, for Mayor, three (3) City Council seats, City Clerk and City Treasurer.  

Nominations

 The official nomination period for a June Election begins in February 16, 2010 and closes in March 12, 2010.  The nominating period may be extended by five days only if an eligible incumbent in an office declines to file. 

Prospective candidates may be issued a nominating petition by the City Clerk any time within the filing period.  Appointments are strongly suggested due to the paperwork involved, The petition must be signed by no less than twenty (20) and no more than thirty (30) registered Torrance voters.  The circulated petitions and other official documents are due back to the City Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on a posted and scheduled date. 

At the time petitions are returned, the candidate may also return a 200 word campaign statement to be printed in the Sample Ballot Pamphlet.  Statement wording and formatting is strictly limited.  Detailed information will be provided at the opening of nominations.  Campaign statements are not required. See Fees 

Campaigning generally begins after the close of nominations.  Many community groups offer opportunities for candidates to reach voters through candidate forums, Torrance Community Access (TCTV) offering filmed Open Mic spots and the League of Women Voters' SmartVoter project offers an opportunity to post campaign information online at no cost to the candidate.  The City Clerk will maintan a public calendar of such events.

Campaign Finance

 Campaign Finance is regulated by the Political Reform Act of 1974 (as amended) and Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).  Specific laws apply to the handling of funds used in campaigns.  Manuals and forms are available from the City Clerk.  Violations of the Act are prosecutable. 

 A Form 501 Notice of Intention must be filed with the City Clerk to indicate intent to run for the position.  A Form 410 Statement of Organization (original and copy) must be filed with the Secretary of State and the City Clerk (copy only) if raising or spending more that $1,000 for a candidacy (including the candidate's own funds).  Technical information is available from the FPPC at 916.322.5660 or toll free at 888.ASK.FPPC.  Forms are available from the City Clerk and may also be found online at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/

The FPPC provides free workshops for candidates and treasurers.  It is strongly suggested that all candidates attend at least one of these workshops to learn the technical requirements of running for elected office in the State of California.  There is no cost but a reservation to ensure sufficient materials is required for attending the workshop.  Contact the FPPC at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/ 

The City of Torrance currently has a Campaign Contribution Ordinance.  Candidates are limited to contributions of $1,000 per person per election cycle with the cycle commencing with the filing of a formal intention (Form 501) to seek the seat through the last day of the 17th month following the month in which the election occurred, only to the extent that the contribution does not exceed net debts outstanding from the election, and the contribution does not otherwise exceed the applicable contribution limit for that election.  Candidate loans of personal funds may not exceed $30,000 at any one time.  Funds may not be carried over from one election to another.  (See TMC section attached.)

Disclosure

 A Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700) requiring disclosure of investments and business activity in the City and within a 2 mile radius for both the candidate and spouse must be filed at the same time as nomination papers are filed.  This information becomes a public record on file in the City Clerk's office and may be viewed by the public.

Fees

 There are no filing fees; however, there is a cost for printing a 200 word candidate statement in the sample ballot mailed to all registered voters.  Historically the City Council has subsidized this printing (estimated between $600 and $800) makng the cost to the candidate $400.  This charge is always subject to change.

Additional Information

 A detailed Candidate Manual will be provided to each prospective candidate when the filing period opens. 
 Copies of additional information can be requested through normal channels (Public Records Request) at regular fees. 
. Candidate Finance statements are 10¢ per page. 
. Candidates who have formed committees will receive one set of the semi-annual campaign filings at no charge.  All others will be charged normal fees.
. Minutes and other similar documents are first five pages are free and 20¢ for each additional page. 
 Copies of videotapes or DVDs of City Council meetings are ordered directly through CitiCABLE online with costs listed.  Meetings can be requested from March 1984.
 Copies of individual candidate ballot statements will be made available at a later date.
 The last Torrance precinct map can be purchased at the Engineering Permit Counter.  Precinct maps are subject to change with each election. 

Council Meetings

 Unless adjourned to another time or location the Torrance City Council meets every Tuesday in the City Hall Council Chamber at 3031 Torrance Blvd., at 5:30 p.m. for an executive session with the regular business commencing no earlier than 7:00 p.m.
Holidays falling on a Tuesday, 5th Tuesday of the month or Tuesday following a Monday holiday may be dark.
Subscriptions for a mailed Agenda Cover are available for $39 a year. 
Agendas (including staff reportsin PDF format) may be downloaded from the City of Torrance home page at http://www.TorranceCa.Gov/2372.htm. 
City Council meetings are cablecast live Tuesdays in CitiCABLE Channel 3 and CitiSOUNDS AM 1620. Meetings are replayed Wednesday and Thursday at 10:00 p.m. and Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Channel 3. 
NOTE: if the meeting is over five (5) hours, the Friday, Saturday & Sunday replay schedule is 10:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.  
 Archived City Council meetings are available through live streaming at http://www.TorranceCA.Gov/. (From May 2005)
 Archived copies of City Council minutes are available online as well (1998). 
 DVDs are available for checkout at the Katy Geissert Main Library and branch libraries.

 Note that full City Council agenda packets are made available to candidates at no charge after official nominating papers have been filed with the City Clerk at the end of the nominating period.

Contact the City Clerk at 310.618.2870 for further information. Questions of a technical nature regarding Campaign Finances will be referred to the FPPC at 916.322.5660 or toll free at 888.ASK-FPPC or through the website at http://www.fppc.ca.gov/