So you want to run for St. John’s City Council. Congratulations! We here at Happy City St. John’s welcome more engagement with municipal politics and to aid you in your quest have put together some must-know information. City Council plays a vital role in shaping the future of St. John’s by making decisions that serve the collective interests of its residents. Through strong leadership and responsible governance, the City continues to grow as a vibrant place to live, work, and visit.

Consider the Following Qualities:

• Leadership:
  You'll collaborate with residents, businesses, committees, and boards. Effective leaders listen, build consensus, and work as part of a team.
• Innovation:
  Understanding City operations is key. You'll be expected to propose new, efficient, and financially responsible approaches when needed.
• Vision:
  Great candidates can see the untapped potential in St. John's and are driven to help it become a top destination for living, business, and tourism.
• Business Acumen:
  As a municipality, the City operates like a large organization. Familiarity with managing and balancing multimillion-dollar budgets is essential.
• Integrity & Transparency:
  Openness and accountability are core values. The City is committed to providing accessible information and engaging honestly with the public.
• Dedication:
  This isn’t a 9-to-5 role. You’ll be accountable not just to the City organization, but to every resident who calls St. John's home.

Eligibility

To seek election for a position on council, you must be:

• 18 years of age at the time of nomination
• A Canadian citizen
• Ordinarily a resident in the city for 30 days immediately preceding the nomination period

You cannot be indebted to the City of St. John's for arrears of taxes or other charges payable to the city, otherwise disqualified under the Municipal Elections Act.

Nomination Process

• First, ensure you are eligible and not otherwise disqualified according to the Municipal Election Act, Section 15.
• Candidates for Ward Councillor must have two nominators who are eligible to vote and reside in the ward in which they intent to seek election. At-Large, Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral Candidates need two nominators who are eligible to vote and reside in the City of St. John's.
• Candidates must request a nomination appointment with the Election Coordinator by email at election@stjohns.ca or by phone at 709-576-3158. Candidates have 24 hours after the close of nominations to withdraw their nomination.
• Candidates must complete and submit a Clearance Certificate Request to the election coordinator a minimum of 2 business days before their nomination appointment to allow time to process the request.
• Candidates must pay a $50 nomination fee at Access St. John's, located on the first floor of City Hall and collect their receipt. Candidates will need to email a copy to election@stjohns.ca or bring it to the nomination appointment to verify that it has been paid in full.
• Candidates, their nominators and official agent (if applicable), must attend the nomination appointment to file the official paperwork.
• Upon fulfilling the requirements above, candidates will be given a map and access to an online voters list applicable to the office in which they are seeking election.

Forms

• Appointment of Official Agent: use this form to appoint an agent to your campaign
• Clearance Certificate Request: use this form to request clearance of taxes or fees owing to the City of St. John's
• Declaration of Qualification of Candidate: use this form to declare you are qualified and not otherwise disqualified from seeking candidacy in a City of St. John's Municipal Election
• Nomination Form: use this form to be nominated for a City of St. John's Municipal Election
• Nomination Form – Not Present: use this form to be nominated for a City of St. John's Municipal Election if the candidate is unable to attend the nomination appointment
• Oath or Affirmation of Secrecy: use this form to affirm that any and all information received from the Voters List will be used solely for the purpose of the municipal election and will not otherwise be used or shared. Election NL's Schedule B Oath of Secrecy form also needs to be completed. 
• Oath or Affirmation - Campaign Contributions and Expenses Disclosure: This form is required to report campaign contributions and expenses within 30 days after the election regardless of if you were elected or not.  
• Official Candidate Contact Information Form

Campaign finances

Campaign finances are subject to PART VIII of the Municipal Election Act and the City's Election Finance By-Law.

Expenditures, contributions and reporting must be in accordance with the legislation. The onus is on the candidate to ensure legislative compliance. The City of St. John's does not provide legal or financial advice to candidates.

Monetary contributions are pursuant to section 67.2 of the Municipal Election Act and shall be made only by a cheque, money order or credit card in the name of the contributor.

All campaign contributions must be reported pursuant to the Election Finance By-Law within 30 days of the election. Contributions exceeding $100 must also disclose the contributor.

Campaign limits

• The limit for a financial contribution considered a “donation” is $100. Anything below $100 is not considered a donation and does not need to be reported. 
• Any and all corporate and union donations are prohibited.
• Individual donations can be no more than $1,000.
• Contributions can only be made to a candidate within the calendar year of the election.
• Disclosure of campaign contributions and expenditures is 30 days post-election.
• Expenditures in addition to contributions are required to be disclosed.

Estimated Election Expenditure Caps

Candidacy	Base Amount	Approximate # of Eligible Voters	Rate Per Eligible Voter	Estimated Total*
Mayoral	$10,000	70,000	.71 cents	$59,700
Deputy Mayoral	$10,000	70,000	.43 cents	$40,100
At Large	$10,000	70,000	.14 cents	$19,800
Ward	$10,000	15,000	.07 cents	$11,050

*Actual amounts are determined based on the final number of registered voters on election day.