What is a campaign committee? When do I need to create it?
For candidates running for county offices including school boards. Once you have filed your Statement of Interest and started to collect signatures on your nomination petitions, you may need to create your campaign committee. Not all candidates form a committee. However according to Arizona election statute within 10 days after your campaign’s combined receipts and/or disbursements exceed $1,400, the candidate must file a Committee using the Statement of Organization form (PDF). As long as your campaign’s combined receipts and disbursements do not exceed $1,400, you may skip this step.
Note: Once you file a committee, you are obligated to filing regular campaign finance reports subject to late fees.
The county form looks a bit overwhelming, but a careful review before you fill it out will make the process go more smoothly. Here's the minimum you will need:
- Candidate name
- Committee name
- Office and district sought
- Party affiliation (Democrat!)
- Year of election cycle (2024)
- Name and address information for Chairperson and Treasurer (see below for more detail)
- Name of the committee's bank (see below for more detail)
The next section asks for committee address, email address, Chairperson, Treasurer address, email address, and phone. The committee can have the same address and email as the candidate, and there is no requirement that you have to have a separate chairperson or treasurer. The candidate can do both of these positions. However, if you have someone, particularly for Treasurer, make sure they will do the job. Your Treasurer will be responsible for filing campaign finance reports. The candidate is ultimately responsible for this.
If you add a chairperson or treasurer after filing this Statement of Organization, you can update it with the county elections department.
You also need the name of the bank where you will maintain campaign funds. You do not need an account number for the filing.
Your campaign committee name will appear on all your literature, signs, website, so choose something short that includes at least the candidate last name. Make sure the county approves your committee name before you use it. After you file, the county will provide you with a calendar of when you have to report campaign finance as well as how the reports are formatted.
That is outside the scope of this website.