Have you ever thought about running for City Council?
Councilmembers play a critical role in solving problems that affect our neighborhoods, guiding thoughtful development, investing in roads and infrastructure to keep pace with growth, and preserving the unique character of our community. Serving on the Council is your opportunity to shape Woodinville’s future and advocate directly for your neighbors.
Serving on City Council is a part-time responsibility. Meetings are held on the first, second, and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm for a total time commitment of about 10 - 20 hours per month, including self-directed time working with residents and city staff.
Democratic Woodinville is here to support you, making public service accessible even with a busy personal life.
Get in touch, we’re here to help
Interested in learning more or ready to run for City Council? Democratic Woodinville is here to support you every step of the way. By opting into updates, you'll receive information about the process, key dates and deadlines, and helpful campaign tips.
Democratic Woodinville may endorse candidates or contribute to campaigns that align with our community-focused values. Registering is a great way to start the conversation and explore how we can support your efforts to serve our city.
You can also contact us at info@woodinville.vote
Save the Date
Democratic Woodinville is hosting a Serve on your City Council webinar on March 29th, 2025 at 12 pm. Register below and select “Sign up for news and updates” to receive an invite.
How to run for Woodinville City Council
Woodinville operates under a council-manager form of government and is represented by the Woodinville City Council, which consists of seven members who are elected at-large by city residents. This means that every councilmember represents the entire city and every resident can vote for all seven positions. Councilmembers serve a four year term.
If you are a King County registered voter and have lived in the City of Woodinville since the last general election (November 5th, 2024), you can run for Woodinville City Council. Verify your eligibility to vote in Woodinville elections using the VoteWA Voter Portal.
Key Dates
Declare Candidacy
Register with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) within two weeks of accepting a donation, making an expense, publicly announcing intent to run for office, or registering with King County Elections. You must initially file:
File a Candidate Registration (C-1): This registers your campaign with the PDC and provides details about your campaign organization.
Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1): This discloses personal financial information to ensure transparency and identify potential conflicts of interest.
See Periodic Reporting below for more information on reports that you must file throughout your campaign.
May 5 - 9: Register with King County Elections
May 20: Last day to submit Voters' Pamphlet profiles
Primary Election
July 18: Ballots mailed
July 28: Last day for voter registration online or by mail
August 5: Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m
General Election
October 17: Ballots mailed
October 27: Last day for voter registration online or by mail
November 4: Deposit your ballot in an official drop box by 8 p.m
Always double check the Washington Secretary of State website for official 2025 Dates and Deadlines.
Periodic Reporting
As a candidate for Woodinville City Council, you must comply with campaign finance rules established by Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). This section will help you understand and meet the specific reporting requirements, depending on whether you choose Mini Reporting or Full Reporting.
You can file PDC forms using their Online Reporting of Campaign Activity (ORCA) system.
Mini Reporting
Mini Reporting is the most common choice. When you select Mini Reporting, you may only spend up to $7,000 and no one donor may contribute more than $500 (excluding your own contributions). With Mini Reporting, you only need to file C-1 (Candidate Registration) and F-1 (Personal Financial Affairs Statement) within two weeks of becoming a candidate.
If you exceed Mini Reporting limits, you must immediately switch to Full Reporting and notify the PDC.
Full Reporting
Full Reporting is required for campaigns expecting higher contributions and expenditures. If you are planning to spend more than $7,000 or receive donations of more than $500 from any one donor, you must choose Full Reporting and file the following periodic (or event based) forms:
Form C-3 (Contribution Reports):
Reports must detail all monetary contributions received:
Contributions must be deposited within five business days of receipt.
File weekly C-3 reports each Monday, reporting all contributions received and deposited during the previous week.
Within 21 days of the election, contributions must be reported within two business days of deposit.
Form C-4 (Expenditure Reports):
Monthly reporting is required from the start of your campaign through May of the election year, due by the 10th of the following month.
Starting in June of the election year, file C-4 reports by the 10th and 25th of each month.
An additional C-4 report is due seven days before both the Primary and General elections.
A final post-election C-4 is due the 10th of the month following the election.
Form C-5 (Out-of-State Contributions):
Required within 10 days if you receive contributions totaling $2,000 or more from outside Washington state within 21 days before the election.