HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026 Qualifying Packet
MEMORANDUM
TO: Candidates for Mayor-Commissioner - Seat 1, Commissioner - Seat 4,
and Commissioner - Seat 5
FROM: Donna L. Bartle, City Clerk
DATE: June 4, 2026
SUBJECT: 2026 AB Candidate Qualifying
Please read all of the materials in this packet very carefully. Candidates are responsible for meeting all
deadlines and correctly completing all required documents.
Qualifying will be held from Noon, Monday, June 8, 2026 –Noon, Friday, June 12, 2026. All qualifying
requirements must be completed and received no later than Noon (EST), June 12, 2026 for a candidate
to be qualified. Our physical location and mailing address is:
Office of the City Clerk
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
WHAT TO FILE DURING THE QUALIFYING PERIOD:
1) Form DS-DE 302NP -E Corr. (Eff. 04/2026), CANDIDATE OATH- NONPARTISAN OFFICE, and
2) Form 1, STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS- 2025 (Refer to attached Memo for further
instructions.), and
• A candidate qualifying for office who is the incumbent or otherwise currently holds a
position requiring the filing of a financial disclosure must log into EFDMS via the “I am a
Filer” button, electronically file their disclosure form, and bring in receipt of the filing.
• Non-incumbent candidates who do not otherwise hold a position requiring the filing of a
financial disclosure must log into EFDMS via the “I am a Candidate” button, enter the
information, print their completed disclosure form and any uploaded attachments, and file the
document with the City Clerk.
3) Pay ELECTION ASSESSMENT FEE in the amount not less than the fee required, as follows:
Mayor-Commissioner - Seat 1 ……………………… $ 139.62
Commissioner- Seat 4 ….…………………………...... $ 112.43
Commissioner- Seat 5……….………………………... $ 112.43
OR
Form AFFIDAVIT OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
Memo - 2026 Qualifying Page 2 of 3
Additional Instructions and Reminders:
Submit original documents to the City Clerk. Exception: Form 1. (See Memo for filing instructions.)
Candidates may submit qualifying papers by hand delivery or mail. The City Clerk will not accept qualifying
papers via facsimile. All documents must have original signatures.
Notarization - FORM DS-DE 302NP -E Corr. (Eff. 04/2026) (and the Affidavit of Financial Hardship, if
applicable) requires (sworn) notarization. Review the document carefully and have it properly notarized.
The City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk are notaries and are available to notarize signatures when signed in
their presence and with proof of identification, if needed.
Form DS-DE 302NP -E Corr. (Eff. 04/2026)
Section: Candidate Oath:
• Type or print your name the way you wish it to appear on the ballot. A candidate’s name as it
is to appear on the ballot may not be changed after qualifying. Be sure to include any necessary
punctuation.
• Determine whether you should check the box(es). Please Note: If your last name consists of
two names and has no hyphen, check the first box. If you fail to check the box, your name will be
listed with the name appearing last on the line. Example: John Jones Smith – If the last name has no
hyphen and you do not check the box, the last name on the ballot would be “Smith”. If you check the
box, your last name would be listed on the ballot as “Jones Smith.” If you have a hyphen within your
last name, the last name would be listed as “Jones-Smith”. If you plan to use a nickname, check the
second box in this section and complete the “Affidavit of Nickname” section on the second page of
the form.
• For “Office”, enter Mayor-Commissioner - Seat 1 or Commissioner-Seat 4 or Commissioner-
Seat 5.
• For “District” and “Circuit #”, enter N/A.
• For “Group or Seat #”, enter either 1, 4, or 5 (whichever relates to the office you are seeking).
• For “County”, enter Duval.
• Check applicable box swearing that “I am not” OR “I am” a citizen of another country AND
if also a citizen in another country, specify which country.
Statement of Legal Name Change:
• Review the statement
Statement of Outstanding Fines, Fees, or Penalties:
• Check applicable box.
• If you answered, “I Do”, you’ll also need to complete the “Detailed Statement of Outstanding
Fines, Fees or Penalties” section on page 2 of form.
Section – Signature portion (Page 1):
• Provide telephone number, email address, and address of legal residence.
• Take a sworn oath administered by a notary, then sign in the notary’s presence.
• The notary must complete and sign the notarization statement, and affix their notary stamp.
Section – Phonetic Spelling of Name:
• Provide Phonetic spelling for audio ballot. (See Guide provided with Form DS-DE 302NP –
E Corr. (Eff. 04/2026))
Section – Statement of Outstanding Fines, Fees or Penalties
• Complete this section if you answered “I Do” on the first page of form.
Memo - 2026 Qualifying Page 3 of 3
Section – Affidavit of Nickname:
•Complete this section only if using nickname for the ballot.
•Take a sworn oath administered by a notary, then sign in the notary’s presence.
•The notary must complete and sign the notarization statement, and affix their notary stamp.
Form 1, Statement of Financial Interests:
•See enclosed memo for instructions.
Election Assessment Fee:
•Must be paid by a properly executed check payable to the City of Atlantic Beach and drawn upon
the candidate’s campaign account. If using a check (starter check) that does not have the imprint
in the upper left corner identifying it as a campaign account check – please write in the proper
information.
•The campaign check must be signed by an appointed treasurer or deputy treasurer. A check signed
by a candidate who has not been designated as the treasurer or deputy treasurer is not acceptable.
•Personal checks, cashier checks, and money orders are not accepted.
•The qualifying assessment fee cannot be returned to a candidate unless the candidate withdraws, in
writing, before the close of qualifying.
Please Note: “If a candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the filing officer shall
immediately notify the candidate and the candidate shall have until the end of qualifying to pay the
fee with a cashier’s check purchased from funds of the campaign account. Failure to pay the fee as
provided in this subparagraph shall disqualify the candidate. (s. 99.061(7)(a)1., Florida Statutes)
Affidavit of Financial Hardship:
•Complete an Affidavit of Financial Hardship form only if you are unable to pay the (1%) election
assessment fee pursuant to s. 99.093(2), Florida Statutes.
You will be notified by email once you have been properly qualified.
If you have any questions or require additional assistance, please contact me at (904) 247-5809 or
dbartle@coab.us.
REMINDERS:
The filing officer performs a ministerial function in reviewing qualifying papers. In determining whether a
candidate is qualified, the filing officer shall review the qualifying papers to determine whether all required
items have been properly filed and whether each item is complete on its face, including whether items that
must be verified have been properly verified pursuant to s. 92.525, Florida Statutes. The filing officer may
not determine whether the contents of the qualifying papers are accurate.
If the filing officer receives qualifying papers during the qualifying period which do not include all required
items prior to the last day of qualifying, the filing officer shall make a reasonable effort to notify the candidate
of the missing or incomplete items and shall inform the candidate that all required items must be received by
the close of qualifying. A candidate’s name as it is to appear on the ballot may not be changed after the end
of qualifying.
ENCLOSURES:
1)FORM DS-DE 302NP -E Corr. (Eff. 04/2026), CANDIDATE OATH - NONPARTISAN OFFICE
2)MEMO REGARDING FORM 1, STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS
3)AFFIDAVIT OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
DS-DE 302NP-E Corr. (Eff. 04/2026) Emergency Rule 1SER26-2, F.A.C.
Page 1 of 2
CANDIDATE OATH
NONPARTISAN OFFICE
(Do not use this form if a Judicial or School Board Candidate)
Check box only if you are seeking to qualify as a write-in candidate:
Write-in Candidate
OFFICE USE ONLY
Name to appear on ballot:
Check box if name includes nickname. (To use nickname, you must complete the Affidavit of Nickname on page 2 of this form.)
I swear or affirm
(Office)
County
(District #) (Circuit #) (Group or Seat #)
I am a qualified elector under the Constitution and the Laws of Florida to hold the office to which I desire to be nominated or elected; I
have qualified for no other public office in the state, the term of which office or any part thereof runs concurrent with the office I seek; and
I have resigned from any office from which I am required to resign pursuant to Section 99.012, Florida Statutes; and I will support the
Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida.
I swear or affirm (Check applicable box.)
I am not a citizen of another country. I am a citizen of another country, specifically .
Statement of Legal Name Change: I have not legally changed my name through a petition pursuant to s. 68.07, F.S., during the 365-
day period preceding the beginning of qualifying. (This does not apply to any change of name in proceedings for dissolution of marriage
Statement of Outstanding Fines, Fees, or Penalties: (Check applicable box. If you do owe more than $250, you must also specify the
amount owed and each entity that levied the same on page 2 of this form.)
I do not / I do owe outstanding fines, fees, or penalties that cumulatively exceed $250, for any violations of s. 8, Art. II of
the State Constitution, the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees under part III of chapter 112, any local ethics ordinance
governing standards of conduct and disclosure requirements, or chapter 106. (s. 99.021(1)(d), F.S.)
( )
Signature of Candidate
STATE OF FLORIDA
Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me by means of Affix Seal Below or, if judge, provide name, title, and court (s. 92.50, F.S.)
online notarization OR physical presence
this ________ day of _______________________, 20_____.
Type of Identification Produced: ________________________
DS-DE 302NP-E Corr. (Eff. 04/2026) Emergency Rule 1SER26-2, F.A.C.
Page 2 of 2
Phonetic Spelling of Name
(Not required for qualifying)
Print the name phonetically on the line below as you wish your name to be pronounced on the audio ballot that may be used by persons
(Continued)
Amount Entity
(Only required if using nickname for the ballot)
My legal name is . I am over the age of eighteen (18) and the
contents of this affidavit are true and correct.
My nickname is . I am generally known by this nickname or
have used it as part of my legal name. I have not created the nickname to mislead voters. My nickname does not imply I am some other
person, constitute a political slogan or otherwise associate me with a cause or issue, or that is obscene or profane.
STATE OF FLORIDA
Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me by means of Affix Seal Below or, if judge, provide name, title, and court (s. 92.50, F.S.)
online notarization OR physical presence
this ________ day of _______________________, 20_____.
Type of Identification Produced: ________________________
Guide for Printing Phonetic Spelling of Candidate’s Name for Audio Ballot
(Do not submit this page to the filing officer)
1. Use the tables below for Phonetic Spelling of Candidate’s Name on page 2 of Form.
2. Use upper case for “stressed” syllables. Use lowercase for “unstressed” syllables.
3. Use dashes (-) to separate syllables.
4. Add any notes such as rhyming examples, silent letters, etc.
Vowels
Stressed Vowel Sounds Unstressed Vowel Sounds
ee
i
e
a a
a a
o o
u oo
u
aw Certain Vowel Sounds with R
u ar
oo air
ou eer
oe our
i oor
a urr
oi
ur
Consonants
b r
d s
f t
g v
h y
wh w
j ch
c sh
l ts
m th
n th
ng z s
p
Examples of Phonetically Spelled Names
Name on Ballot Pronounced As
Form 1 – Statement of Financial Interests
A candidate qualifying for office who is the incumbent or otherwise currently holds a position requiring
the filing of a financial disclosure must log into EFDMS via the "I am a Filer" button and electronically file
their disclosure form. The law permits the filer to print and take the Verification/Receipt of Filing to their
Qualifying Officer instead of printing the disclosure form for qualifying purposes. These candidates should
make sure that the Verification/Receipt of Filing is for the appropriate disclosure form required for
qualification purposes.
Non-incumbent candidates who do not otherwise hold a position requiring the filing of a financial
disclosure must log into the EFDMS via the "I am a Candidate" button. These candidates will not file
electronically with the Commission (their form status in EFDMS will always reflect “in progress”).
Importantly, because this category of candidate does not file electronically, they do not have the option to
print a Verification/Receipt of Filing. They must print their completed disclosure and any uploaded
attachments to file with the Qualifying Officer.
• Click the following link to access the Florida Commission on Ethics’ Electronic Financial Disclosure
Management System (EFDMS) webpage for instructions and links. (If you have questions on how to
fill out the information required, please contact your financial advisor.)
https://disclosure.floridaethics.gov/Account/Login
Please Note: Chrome, Edge, or Firefox are the recommended browsers to use for the EFDMS website.
Florida Elections Commission
AFFIDAVIT OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
I, , a candidate for the office of
do hereby certify, pursuant to
Section 99.093(2), Florida Statutes, that I am unable to pay the 1% election assessment of
$_______________ to qualify for nomination or election to public office because paying the assessment
would be an undue burden on my personal financial resources or on the financial resources available to
me. Under penalty of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing and that it is a true and correct
statement.
Date Signature of Candidate
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me this ________ day of , 20 by
.
Signature of Notary Public – State of Florida Personally Known Produced Identification
Print, Type, or Stamp Commissioned Name of Notary Public Type of Identification Produced
Received by:
Name: Telephone:
City Date of Election:
Print Name