The City of Kingman would like to invite the community to two informational open houses regarding Proposition 415. The first will be held at 4:00 p.m. October 4th at the Kingman City Council Chambers located at 310 North Fourth Street. The second open house will be held at the same time on October 18th.
Kingman City Manager Ron Foggin said, “These informational open houses are another way to ensure the voting public receives the facts about Proposition 415.”
Per Arizona Revised Statue, the City of Kingman may provide information regarding the ballot issue just not advocacy. Individual councilmembers may advocate for ballot issues including the use of their official title but again they cannot use city resources to facilitate or support those efforts. In addition, the Council, as a whole, cannot take a position.
§ 9-500.14. Use of city or town resources or employees to influence elections; prohibition; civil penalty; definitions -
A. A city or town shall not spend or use its resources, including the use or expenditure of monies, accounts, credit, facilities, vehicles, postage, telecommunications, computer hardware and software, web pages, personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or any other thing of value of the city or town, for the purpose of influencing the outcomes of elections. Notwithstanding this section, a city or town may distribute informational pamphlets on a proposed bond election as provided in § 35-454 if those informational pamphlets present factual information in a neutral manner. Nothing in this section precludes a city or town from reporting on official actions of the governing body.
B. The prohibition on the use of public resources to influence the outcome of bond, budget override and other tax-related elections includes the use of city-focused or town-focused promotional expenditures that occur after an election is called and through election day. This prohibition does not include routine city or town communications.
“Influencing the outcomes of elections” means supporting or opposing a candidate for nomination or election to public office or the recall of a public officer or supporting or opposing a ballot measure, question or proposition, including any bond, budget or override election and supporting or opposing the circulation of a petition for the recall of a public officer or a petition for a ballot measure, question or proposition in any manner that is not impartial or neutral.
“Routine city or town communications” means messages or advertisements that are germane to the functions of the city or town and that maintain the frequency, scope and distribution consistent with past practices or are necessary for public safety.
Original source can be found here.
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