Campaign Code of Conduct

By Greg Sellers

Campaign Code of Conduct I will abide by while campaigning.

Introduction Candidates have a responsibility to provide voters with truthful, fair and clean campaigns for public office and to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to a civil, issue-oriented exchange with their fellow candidates.

Personal attack-oriented campaigns are a major factor in the growing cynicism, alienation, and non-participation among American voters. They demean through use of innuendo and rumor our valued political process.

Therefore:

I shall conduct my campaign openly and publicly, focusing on the issues as I see them, presenting my record and policies with respect, sincerity, honesty, and fairness, and challenging without fear or favor the record and policies of my opponents if provable and relevant to the campaign.

I shall not use or permit the use of personal attacks against my opponents' personal or family life based on race, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, physical health status, or age.

I shall immediately and publicly repudiate support from any individual or group that resorts to activities on behalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of my opponents that violate the spirit of this code; this includes any tactics designed to interfere with voter contact.

I shall ensure that my campaign staff observe this Code of Campaign Conduct. I will accept responsibility for all paid advertising and other official campaign materials created for use on my behalf by my staff. I will encourage my campaign supporters to do so as well.

Should I discover violations of this Code, I will contact my opponents directly, and without malice, request that corrections be made.

We, the undersigned, candidates for Morgan Hill Mayor, do solemnly pledge to conduct our respective campaigns in accordance with the above principles and practices.

Signed this day, March 26, 2004, Morgan Hill, California