Commission Candidates Guidelines

Elections for City Commissioners

City elections are held on even years.  The City Code provides for staggered City Commission Seat elections; Seats 1, 2 and 3 are on one ballot, while Seats 4 and 5 are on the next election cycle. Commissioners and the Mayor run at large with Seat assignments. The term of office is four years. 

Qualifications to Run For Elected City Office

A Candidate must:

  • be a resident of the City
  • be a registered voter
  • have continuously resided in the City for one year, immediately prior to filing for a Commission Seat

Declared and Qualified Candidate

  • Declared Candidates: File paperwork with the City Clerk at any time prior to the Qualifying Period, to declare that he/she is running for office. To declare to run, a Candidate must complete and submit to the City Clerk, all  declare to run forms (see below)
  • Qualified Candidates: Once the declare to run forms are time-stamped by the City Clerk, the Candidate takes the forms to the Bank to open an Election Campaign Account.  To appear on the Election Ballot, a Candidate must submit, to the City Clerk, all the Qualifying Forms (see below), during the Candidate Qualifying Period, and pay the Qualifying Fees from the Election Campaign Account  

Candidate Qualifying Period

  • Per City Code, the Candidate Qualifying Period begins at Noon on Monday of the thirteenth week, prior to the election, until Noon the following Friday. The 2022 Election Qualifying Period is: Noon, August 8  to Noon, August 12, 2022 

Candidate and Treasurer Responsibilities

2022 Election Commission Candidate Seats

The City of Cocoa Beach will be holding a General Election on November 8, 2022. Two Commission Seats are up for election. The term of each office is four years

  • Commissioner Seat #2 (currently filled by Commissioner Ed Martinez)
  • Commissioner Seat #4 (currently filled by Commissioner Skip Williams)
  • Commissioner Seat #5 (currently filled by Commissioner Mike Miller)

2022 Election Declare To Run Forms

A Candidate may declare at any time, prior to the week of August 8, 2022, to run for office. Following the submittal of the declare to run forms, treasurer reports must be submitted to the City Clerk in compliance with the 2022 Candidate Treasurer Reporting Calendar.  The  forms that must be completed and submitted to the City Clerk are:

  • DS-DE 9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidates (form link below)
  • DS-DE 84 Statement of Candidate 

2022 Election Qualifying Forms

A Candidate must submit all Qualifying Forms to the City Clerk during the City Candidate Qualifying Period 

The City Clerk's Office posts Candidate submittals to the City’s Website. To ensure that the paperwork is ADA (American with Disabilities Act) complaint, the City requires that the below ADA formatted forms be used and that the information is typed in, rather than hand written.  The Candidate must pay filing fees: City $50 and State $60 (1% of Salary) (total $110 paid from Candidate Campaign Account)

2022 Election Resources, Laws and Treasurer Reports; 2023 Treasurer Reporting Calendar

Following the submittal of the qualifying forms, candidates/treasurers are required to submit periodic treasurer reports following Florida Laws, the Election calendars, and using the required forms.  

Political Signs Rules

  • City Code Sign Standards - The City does not assess a Sign Permit fee
    - Sign Permit  - even though the City Code requires a permit, the City is not requiring one for political signage. A permit is not required provided the size, location and amount are in compliance with the requirements for temporary signs in section 5-10. [Land Development Code 5-03 C.] 
    *Permit required for signs exceeding a maximum of two signs with a total of 6 square feet for each sign on residential sites, and two signs with a total of 9 square feet for each sign on non-residential sites. [Land Development Code 5-10 D. & E.]  Note: There is no permit fee for temporary political signage   
    - Sign inspection - Inspection may be required if the square footage exceeds the maximums provided under Land Development Code 5-10 D. & E.
    - Removal of Signage - signage can remain up all throughout the primary and general elections.
    Temporary signs shall be removed within three (3) days after the date upon which the sign has fulfilled its purpose [Land Development Code 5-10 B.]
    Florida Department of Transportation Political Signs on Right of Way - State Roads (SRA1A and SR520)