Municipal elections are often seen as the first step in pursuing a political career, but they are also an incredible opportunity to help your community and try to change things. Follow these tips to run for mayor.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Run for election
Step 1. Find out about the steps required to submit your application in your municipality; there are always specific requirements that you must comply with
Check the Municipality website or ask the Municipal Offices for a paper copy explaining the exact procedures to be able to submit your application.
If you don't find detailed explanations, you can always go to the Municipality and ask to speak to someone who will explain the procedures to you. Contact the Electoral Office and ask if they have any information guides on submitting nominations, necessary signatures and requirements
Step 2. Get the support of your political party
If you want to run for election as a representative of a political party, it's important to make sure you agree. Talk to local leaders - having party support will help you get the help and signatures you need to run for elections. Go to meetings and try to get executives to support your application.
Step 3. Make a petition
You will initially need to petition to be able to apply. Each location has a fixed number of signatures that you will need to obtain in order to validate your application. Most of the time, you will need to do this in a specific amount of time. Learn about the procedures in your place of residence and put a strategy in place to get the signatures you need.
- During the election period, a date will be set by which you will have to deliver the signatures. If you cannot reach the required signatures, you will not be able to apply.
- Find out about any other documents to attach to the petition.
Step 4. Create a campaign for which the voter must explicitly write your name, if this does not appear on the ballot paper
If you don't get enough signatures in the allotted time, you can consider a campaign of preference. At the time of the vote, each voter has the opportunity to express their preference towards a person they wish to have as mayor. If you know you have a lot of followers, make stickers with your name and spin them around before voting day. In the voting booth, people cannot be mistaken about the spelling of your name and will be able to correctly express their preference.
There is no need to use stickers, you can find any other means to help voters remember your name and how to spell it. Find any effective communication tool to keep you from being forgotten at the crucial moment of the vote
Part 2 of 2: Managing the Application
Step 1. Hire staff
While it is useful to have a large staff to help you during the election campaign, the three most important figures are: the campaign manager, the treasurer and the fundraiser. Your staff can be made up of friends and family or you can hire professionals.
- The campaign manager, as you may have guessed, is responsible for the management: he will have to solve the problems and make sure that things go the right way. While you can try to be in charge of the campaign yourself, you will surely be too busy with public appearances, interviews and more and you will definitely need someone to help you.
- The treasurer ensures that campaign funds are spent properly. He will have to keep accounts of expenses and check that your electoral campaign complies with any directives of your municipality from an economic point of view.
- Those involved in fundraising must ensure that they obtain funding and donations. You are the reason people will donate to your campaign, so you will be the first to look for funds. The fundraiser will need to ensure that your efforts in this direction are directed in the right direction.
Step 2. Fund your campaign
You can use your own money or seek funding through petitions. There are guidelines to follow on how to fund election campaigns, so make sure you know them.
As mentioned before, the best way to fund your campaign is through fundraising. Even if you don't decide to hire a representative for this task, you will still need to solicit donations from local citizens or merchants
Step 3. Form a business strategy
To run a successful campaign, you will need to have a successful budget. Sit down with your campaign manager, treasurer and fundraiser and set a budget cap. Focus on the things you need and figure out how much money you will need to cover the costs.
Generally, you will need to contact potential voters five or six times during the campaign. Determine how much money will be needed and take this expense into account
Step 4. Create a strategy
This must include the priority areas for your application. They should be topics that touch your fellow citizens closely and that are in tune with your values. You can't have a strategy based on values you don't believe in.
- For example, if you are applying to a small town that has a beautiful park that a large company wants to raze to build a nuclear power plant, you can use this argument as a cornerstone of your campaign, fighting against the construction of the power plant.
- If you are applying in a big city, you will be able to choose a fringe topic as the focus of your application. An example would be cleaning the areas around schools (for example, making them clean and drug-free).
Step 5. Make a fair and honest campaign
Keep in mind that part of your campaign will be about how comfortable you feel about handling accusations against your opponent. The world of politics is slimy. Try to focus on your campaign without starting a "mud machine" on your opponents. Any voter who changes sides is a lost vote. Very few votes are often enough to win elections.
Step 6. Be cautious about the promises you make
Instead of making promises to merchants and citizens, ask them to communicate openly with you once you are elected mayor. People appreciate mayors who don't break their promises and don't tell lies.
Step 7. Advertise your campaign
Advertising is an important part of gaining visibility and support. Contact local media, create symbols and create material with your name on it.
- Contact local media. If you are one of the leading candidates, they may already have contacted you. Either way, schedule interviews with newspapers, radio, magazines, and other media.
- Find a company that creates your material. Using a local company shows that you are attentive to the local economy. Ask your friends and family to display stickers and more on their window or car. Distribute material at the events you are invited to.
- Some great items are stickers or small cards. Badges, hats and t-shirts are a great way to make your friends and family become a living billboard!
Step 8. Make your election campaign very active on the web and on social networks
These portals have become the most important tool during an election campaign. Create a Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profile for your campaign (and even for yourself if you don't already have it). Most importantly, use these platforms by writing something on a regular basis (at least once a day). Ask your supporters to share your posts.
- Remember: if you're using an existing profile, make sure nothing is compromising (for example, delete embarrassing photos!).
- Consider creating a website to allow people to learn more about you and your ideas. If they can't meet you in person, at least they can read what you think!
Advice
- Not all mayors are elected in the same way. Be well informed about the procedures of your municipality, and based on these, calibrate the appropriate political strategy.
- Volunteer and do charity work well before you decide to apply. People will start to get to know you and understand what is really important to you.
- Make sure you write your email address on advertising materials.
