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. Candidates are elected by a plurality vote

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: can file paperwork at any time to declare that they are running for office. To declare to run, a Candidate must complete the following forms: DSDE 9  - Appointment of Treasurer and DS-DE 84 - Statement of Candidate
  • Qualified Candidates: To appear on the election ballot, during the City’s Qualifying Period, Candidates must submit, to the City Clerk, additional Qualifying Forms (see below), and pay the fees

Candidate Qualifying Period

  • Per City Code, the Candidate Qualifying Period begins on the thirteenth week, prior to the election, and runs noon on Monday, to noon on Friday

Candidate Responsibilities

  • Submit completed forms and pay fees during the Qualifying Period to have name placed on the ballot
  • Submit Treasurer Reports on due dates
  • Abide by the State of Florida and City Election Laws

2020 Election Commission Candidate Seats

The City of Cocoa Beach will be holding a general election on November 3, 2020. Three 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 #3 (currently filled by Commissioner Karalyn Woulas)
  • Mayor-Commissioner Seat #1 (currently filled by Mayor Ben Malik)

2020 Election Qualifying Period

The 2020 Election Qualifying Period is: Noon to Noon, August 3 - 7, 2020 

2020 Election Declare To Run for Office Forms

A Candidate may declare at any time, prior to qualifying, that they plan to run for office.  Required Forms to announce running for office are:

  • DS-DE 9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer and Designation of Campaign Depository for Candidates (form link below)
  • DS-DE 84 Statement of Candidate 
  • Treasurer Reports (form links below, see reporting dates/election calendar for due dates)

2020 Qualifying Forms and Fees

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

The City of Cocoa Beach posts all Candidate submittals on the City’s Website.  To ensure that the paperwork is ADA (American with Disabilities Act) complaint, the City requires that ADA formatted forms are used and information is typed in, rather than hand written

2020 Election Treasurer Forms

The City of Cocoa Beach posts all Candidate submittals on the City’s Website.  To ensure that the paperwork is ADA (American with Disabilities Act) complaint, the City requires that ADA formatted forms are used and information is typed in, rather than hand written.

NOTICE TO CITY CANDIDATES: City Code sets contribution limits per election, $250 per donor, per election, Ordinance No. 1586

Political Signs Rules