To the thirteen qualified candidates for Burbank City Council
General Municipal Election, November 3, 2026
Dear City Council Candidate,
This is a general message going to every candidate for Burbank City Council. Nobody is being singled out. We hope you will read it in the same friendly spirit in which it is sent.
Election Day is close, so we want to tell you plainly what we are seeing and what we are going to do about it.
Mailers. Residents all over town are getting campaign mailers that clearly went to a great many households. A mailing that big almost certainly costs more than $1,000. In the last 90 days before an election, California law requires a report within 24 hours when a committee spends $1,000 or more to support or oppose a candidate (Form 496), and when a candidate or committee gives or receives $1,000 or more from a single source (Form 497). The City Clerk reminded every candidate of this on October 28. At least one mailing we have seen does not appear to have been reported within 24 hours.
So we will be sending Freedom of Information Act requests to the post offices these mailers were sent from. We will ask for the postage records, so the public can see what each mailing actually cost.
Text messages. Automated text messages to cell phones do require the owner’s permission first. That is federal law: the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, United States Code, Title 47, Section 227. At least one campaign appears to be sending these texts anyway.
Why we are doing this. This is not about catching anybody. It is about turning the lights on. Voters have a right to know how people are trying to get elected, and we want Burbank run by honest, ethical people who follow the rules. That is our goal, and we think it matters.
Sunlight has never hurt anybody who was not up to something.
What comes next. We know these rules can be complicated. Sometimes somebody leaves the gate open and the cow wanders off, and nobody meant any harm. But somebody still has to go get the cow. We will be looking at every council campaign, following up, and publishing our analysis. If you find something you missed, the easiest fix is to file it now. Help is one phone call away:
Linda Thai, Assistant City Clerk: (818) 238-5851, LThai@burbankca.gov
Fair Political Practices Commission Advice Line: (866) 275-3772, Advice@fppc.ca.gov
Thank you for running. It is hard work, and we respect anyone willing to put their name on the ballot.
Yours sincerely,
The Burbank Republican Party
Sources
- City of Burbank, Office of the City Clerk, “Reminder Regarding 24-Hour Campaign Disclosure Reports,” sent to all candidates and treasurers, October 28, 2026.
- City of Burbank, Office of the City Clerk, November 3, 2026 election candidate log, updated August 21, 2026.
- Fair Political Practices Commission, campaign reports and 24-hour reports (Forms 496 and 497).
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act, United States Code, Title 47, Section 227.