I was wondering if anyone on here has ever run for a position as a local councillor or if you know someone who has and you picked up any helpful insights along the way. I'm seriously considering putting myself forward in the next local elections and would really appreciate any advice or stories about what the process was like, especially when it comes to campaigning. The 3 existing female candidates here are kinda of shit at their jobs - Its all about DEI - not actually solving any of the local issues relating to trash, education or health care issues.
I'm still in the early stages of figuring things out, but I'm particularly interested in the practical side of things: what worked for you (or didn’t), how you got your message across to local residents, and any creative or down-to-earth ideas for getting noticed and connecting with people in the community. I know knocking on doors is a big one, but beyond that - flyers, social media, small events, word-of-mouth - what made a difference?
The laws in the UK relating to how much you can spend are crazy - £0.05 per constituent (about 6cents)
Also, if there’s anything you wish you’d known before you started, I’d love to hear that too. I know each area and community is different, but getting a sense of real-world experience would be incredibly useful as I start planning things out.
Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share!