We NEED more Liberty Bell! ... Who is seriously thinking about running for office?

[thomas-in-ky]

Don't wait until next election guys. Get on the water board, electric board, any sort of planning board. Easy stuff that only requires a few signatures and some provisional ballots.

Get on those. Get known. Show you care about your community. Then, when the next election comes, you are already implanted.

Although many of these boards are appointed, some are elected, and only the insiders know how it works. (become an insider!) For instance, our Conservation District Board (a local steering board for USDA NRCS funds and policies) is ostensibly an elected board. However, every election year, the board reappoints only its previous members for the empty slots. If there are 3 appointments for 3 slots, the candidates win by default and the issue isn't even printed on the ballot. This year, I convinced two liberty minded individuals to run for the board. All it required was a petition with 25 signatures to put each candidate on the ballot.

The insiders were livid this year when they found that they had to run for office for the first time in over a decade! Whats more, these positions pay no salary, so no one spends money to campaign. It boils down to name recognition, and ballot position. I attended the drawing for ballot position to make sure nothing fishy went on, and lo-and-behold, one of the liberty candidates pulled second position. On the ballot, the issue was presented as "vote for 3 of the five candidates" Long story short, my friend won, and one of the "lifers" is off the board.

So, I think more liberty candidates should run for the offices (e.g. city council) where ballot position is a strong determining factor of outcome. After the drawing for ballot position, determine how much effort and money to put into the campaign. Drawing first position in a further-down-the-ticket race is an easy way to get a foot in the door.

 

[Alan Brown Jr.]

I ran for City Council this year. Although I didn't win, I will keep my eye open for political opportunities, because I firmly believe that every level of government is important, and we need solid constitutionalists in office to turn this country around. I hope lots more run!

I got started too late and wasn't as good at dividing my time between Rand's campaign and my own. But it was still a good experience, and for being someone that no one knows, I was fairly pleased with how it went! Thank you to the folks who contributed time, money and advice! I was really encouraged and will probably do it again sometime.

 

[Michigan11]

I ran for City Council this year. Although I didn't win, I will keep my eye open for political opportunities, because I firmly believe that every level of government is important, and we need solid constitutionalists in office to turn this country around. I hope lots more run!

I got started too late and wasn't as good at dividing my time between Rand's campaign and my own. But it was still a good experience, and for being someone that no one knows, I was fairly pleased with how it went! Thank you to the folks who contributed time, money and advice! I was really encouraged and will probably do it again sometime.

Wow! Very nice, and please give us a snipet or something about your race, so we can see what to learn from.

 

[Alan Brown Jr.]

Wow! Very nice, and please give us a snipet or something about your race, so we can see what to learn from.

Well, as I alluded to before, starting early would be a really big help. We started late, but had very professional literature and a website. Rand's endorsement really helped raised money, but unfortunately it came so late that we only could put it toward radio ads... I would have liked to try some mailers.

We covered about 40% of the town door to door. People were very friendly and receptive. A handful had seen me in the one televised debate and were pretty enthusiastic. Most didn't seem to feel strongly about city council at all.

I ended up getting 473 votes, with 1566 minimum needed to win a seat. I actually was pretty pleased with that, considering I'm not well known and the town is fairly tight-knit, while my opponents own hotels, liquor stores etc. The incumbents had signs out months before the election (already knew who their friends were.) Although almost every position had a challenger this year, the incumbents & Establishment won every position.

All our signs and resources are being retained to give us a head start next time. We didn't end up implementing some 60% of the election strategies we needed, but my main focus was on Rand's election. Next time I think we'll see a very different outcome.

Not sure if that explains it all... If there are any specific questions though, I'd be happy to answer!

If I can run though, anyone can! I hope to see people doing that all across the U.S. We won't win every one, but we can only win if we run!

 

[Wolverine302]

I would, although i don't own a business, don't have a degree higher than an associates, and I am not rich.

 

[Michigan11]

Well, as I alluded to before, starting early would be a really big help. We started late, but had very professional literature and a website. Rand's endorsement really helped raised money, but unfortunately it came so late that we only could put it toward radio ads... I would have liked to try some mailers.

We covered about 40% of the town door to door. People were very friendly and receptive. A handful had seen me in the one televised debate and were pretty enthusiastic. Most didn't seem to feel strongly about city council at all.

I ended up getting 473 votes, with 1566 minimum needed to win a seat. I actually was pretty pleased with that, considering I'm not well known and the town is fairly tight-knit, while my opponents own hotels, liquor stores etc. The incumbents had signs out months before the election (already knew who their friends were.) Although almost every position had a challenger this year, the incumbents & Establishment won every position.

All our signs and resources are being retained to give us a head start next time. We didn't end up implementing some 60% of the election strategies we needed, but my main focus was on Rand's election. Next time I think we'll see a very different outcome.

Not sure if that explains it all... If there are any specific questions though, I'd be happy to answer!

If I can run though, anyone can! I hope to see people doing that all across the U.S. We won't win every one, but we can only win if we run!

Great post, the more details the better, I think those interested in running yet hold back have a fear of going all in and what to do or expect. Yet these seats are all taken for granted, if you had gone all in you could of won, and most likely will next time.

 

[jacque]

I would, although i don't own a business, don't have a degree higher than an associates, and I am not rich.

I agree that the issue of being able to support yourself while campaigning is hugh. I have never seen anything in writing about having a degree and being rich.

What is your idea of cost involved with an election?

Gunny did not do any radio or TV ads. The biggest expense was the slimjims for the door to door campaign. We bought our own printer, paper cutter and door bags. Glen designed all this own handouts, business cards, door magnets and yard signs.

Start early. We started going door to door every weekend from April to November. We only did lit drops if the people were not at home. Gunny targeted his slimjims for the group we were going to canvas, Dems, Rep, and unaffiliated. We were able to buy into software with a group of 6. Glen could print out exactly what we needed by group and street location.

Find local support so people will be able to help. Glen did a lot and saved a lot by designing his own website and literature. Money saved we would have had to payout to a vender. He did get very little sleep but the end results shows the effort we put into it.

Freedom Mom

 

[Michigan11]

Alright the forum's arms are open and ready to give... just RUN

 

[WilliamShrugged]

I would love to run for something in my small town, but i feel at 21 with little college and work experience that I have any knowledge into running for anything. I don't know all the positions and i really don't know what each one does. Also i'm not very well known in my town. I also don't have tons of cash to spend for campaigning, but i would still love to hear peoples advice towards me about running anytime soon.

 

[Michigan11]

I would love to run for something in my small town, but i feel at 21 with little college and work experience that I have any knowledge into running for anything. I don't know all the positions and i really don't know what each one does. Also i'm not very well known in my town. I also don't have tons of cash to spend for campaigning, but i would still love to hear peoples advice towards me about running anytime soon.

You know what, I think everyone has that anxiety thinking about running, even the big hitters I'm sure. I know in selling, I could never shake it, and in time I realized that was what made me good at what I do. There never really is a right time to do what you want or should do, you just have to find it within and do it. There are those who teach and those who do. Which are you or what do you want to be?

Also, I'd forget about the lack of college, it's just not something that important. The knowledge you can pick up as you go. As another in this thread said, he ran but wasn't well known, and was surprised how many votes he got. In a city near me, population 100,000 there was a guy who ran for mayor against an incumbent who everyone thought was well liked, yet this guy got 46% of the vote and only campaigned half ass, just knocked on a few hundred doors is all. If he and the other guy in here would have went full time into their campaigns, I think they would have won. Something to think about anyway for you and others. Cash can be raised in many ways, I'm sure Gunny and everyone else can think up ways, and this board possibly, especially considering RP 2012 - lots of donors will be around.

 

[Elwar]

I was going to run for Water Board. I went down and got my petition paperwork. Then after I'd left they called me and said that the bi-laws only allow people who had been water customers for the past 2 years to run...

I'd seen that in the bi-laws and didn't really think it through all the way. I lived in my house for 2 years but the first 3 months I was renting from the old home-owner while the short sale went through...so he was technically the customer, I was just paying the bill (we had to do it that way because my water company sucks).

I'd say that I'll run again next January, but I was hoping to have a year of Water Board under my belt so that I could run for something bigger in 2012 with all of the elections going on...

I might just have to bite the bullet and go for something bigger anyway. I'm going to Toastmasters since one of my main weaknesses is my speaking ability. My other downfall is the fact that I've only lived here for 2 years. But in Florida...almost everyone's from somewhere else (up north).

 

[Captain America]

i'd like to become a bit more financially stable before I run for anything.

 

[emazur]

Just noticed this thread. I called Gary Johnson on talk radio a couple months ago and asked him how he won the Governor race w/o having any prior political experience:

 

[Michigan11]

So with all the votes so far, has anyone who was "maybe" considering to run, and who is running this year and for what? any solid plans yet? Interested to hear about them.

 

[Alan Brown Jr.]

A friend asked me the other day what my cost/vote ratio was. I raised $1,200 total and received 473 votes, so it was $2.54 per vote. Apparently that is exceedingly cost effective as far as campaigns go. That was another encouraging thing to come of the race. There is serious consideration of another run in 2012, and the political situation is being monitored. I also dug up some debate videos and may post them on Youtube if anyone is interested. A little nervous though because of the philosophers on this board... it was kind of a limited debate and I didn't advocate abolishing everything.

 

[Michigan11]

A friend asked me the other day what my cost/vote ratio was. I raised $1,200 total and received 473 votes, so it was $2.54 per vote. Apparently that is exceedingly cost effective as far as campaigns go. That was another encouraging thing to come of the race. There is serious consideration of another run in 2012, and the political situation is being monitored. I also dug up some debate videos and may post them on Youtube if anyone is interested. A little nervous though because of the philosophers on this board... it was kind of a limited debate and I didn't advocate abolishing everything.

I say just post it man, you got nothing to worry about! Vids like your local debate bring it all local to the rest of us watching.

 

[libertarian4321]

I'll run for either the US congress or the state legislature as a Libertarian.

 

[ItsTime]

I already hold office.

 

[helmuth_hubener]

I ran in 2010 for state house and got 12.5% of the vote. 242 votes with $0 spent, and I did essentially nothing to campaign except write some position pieces for the local newspaper. So I think if I can find the right race (with no incumbent) and actually run a real campaign, putting up signs, etc., I could win next time. What do you think? What office should I run for? I'm in a town of about 30,000 in Wyoming.

 

[AZKing]

I ran in 2010 for state house and got 12.5% of the vote. 242 votes with $0 spent, and I did essentially nothing to campaign except write some position pieces for the local newspaper. So I think if I can find the right race (with no incumbent) and actually run a real campaign, putting up signs, etc., I could win next time. What do you think? What office should I run for? I'm in a town of about 30,000 in Wyoming.

State House is always a good position because you won't have to spend a whole lot.