Business Has anyone ever run for a local (elected) government position?

[Publisher Bucks]

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!

[Sly]

I know several people that have. Lower level spots seem easier to get, like zoning boards. I know several people that made their city/County zoning boards.

In the end, they all hated it. Too much nepotism, too much bitching about nonsense, no real benefit.

Seems cool from the outside, once inside sounds like hell.

[Publisher Bucks]

Originally Posted by Sly

I know several people that have. Lower level spots seem easier to get, like zoning boards. I know several people that made their city/County zoning boards.

In the end, they all hated it. Too much nepotism, too much bitching about nonsense, no real benefit.

Seems cool from the outside, once inside sounds like hell.

The seat im looking at requiress around 15-20 hours work a week - basically sitting in meetings - £10, 218 a year - Roughly $14,000 for doing fuck all but sitting in meetings and listening to people, occasionally I'd have to walk about the community and chat with people to see what issues they have, but most of the things people here are bitching about is just common sense stuff, make sure the garbage is collected, the green spaces are maintained and that local police are more visible to deter crime.

[Tasty1]

If you want to do it right, it will cost much more than 15-20 hours a week.
You need a team to work things out, talk to people, work with action groups.
And everyone has different interest.
Alone it will be to much work if there are many topics.

And prepared for lies during campaigning. Just say they are lying if you think they are lying. And most are lying.

[CaptainHowdy]

I've been a Mayor once (or twice) in my life . . .

[Publisher Bucks]

Originally Posted by Tasty1

If you want to do it right, it will cost much more than 15-20 hours a week.
You need a team to work things out, talk to people, work with action groups.
And everyone has different interest.
Alone it will be to much work if there are many topics.

And prepared for lies during campaigning. Just say they are lying if you think they are lying. And most are lying.

Thankfully, it doesnt work like that in the UK, unless youre running for Prime Minister or leader for a party.

As I said, the budget that I'm legally allowed to spend is around $0.06 per head, 8000 ish constituents - around $480 total between the date I'm officially declared a candidate until the local election, May 7th 2026.

Also, I'm allowed to accept donations, but anything over £50 has to be reported, so a 'grassroots' effort where the max donation amount from an individual is £45 works well, businesses can donate as much as they like, it just has to be reported to the election commission.

Of course, that doesnt stop me spending money (time) beforehand on stuff like building a campaign website, designing flyers, business cards, etc... I just cant do it after becoming a registered candidate or it'll eat up my entire allowable spend and, anything 'donated' such as flyers, web design, etc after being registered, has its value attached and comes off the $480 total spend or I'd be in breach of election law here in the UK.

Basically, the date I submit my intent to run forms, I can't spend shit, it's all got to be volunteers doing the door-to-door stuff, kicking babies, hugging dogs, holding events, etc, etc...

[NoWhErE]

Originally Posted by Publisher Bucks

The seat im looking at requiress around 15-20 hours work a week - basically sitting in meetings - £10, 218 a year - Roughly $14,000 for doing fuck all but sitting in meetings and listening to people, occasionally I'd have to walk about the community and chat with people to see what issues they have, but most of the things people here are bitching about is just common sense stuff, make sure the garbage is collected, the green spaces are maintained and that local police are more visible to deter crime.

Sounds like shit pay for half a full-time job.

[Sly]

Originally Posted by Publisher Bucks

Basically, the date I submit my intent to run forms, I can't spend shit, it's all got to be volunteers doing the door-to-door stuff, kicking babies, hugging dogs, holding events, etc, etc...

I wouldn't recommend running on that. :1orglaugh

[pornlaw]

I ran for a seat on the my local school board directly out of college that turned into a short lived "career" in politics where I was advisor to the Governor, I was appointed local civil representative and ran political campaigns for other local politicians. I became the go to "guy/kid" because I had the ear of the mayor (future Governor) and could solve problems.

I got to meet a lot of high level politicians in those 3 years, including Bill & Hilary and numerous US Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

Nothing beats door to door canvasing and shaking hands. Meeting people in person, talking to them about the issues they care about and what matters most to them.

Take two people with you whenever you go. They should take notes about the person, their address and anything particular, ie., sick cat, kid just won the swim meet, the vintage car in their driveway. Later have someone from your office type up a personal letter discussing these and hand sign it with a request for their vote.

All politics are local. Flyers and door hangers are good but nothing beats meeting people and letting them get to know the real you.

Go anywhere and everywhere you can to meet voters. Days are long and tiring and you will shake a lot of hands and take a lot of photos, and you will probably lose your first election, but stick with it. And once you win, you are in the driver seat from there on out. Its hard to lose as an incumbent.

[Publisher Bucks]

Originally Posted by Sly

I wouldn't recommend running on that.

I dunno, might get a few votes because of it

[Publisher Bucks]

Originally Posted by pornlaw

I got to meet a lot of high level politicians in those 3 years, including Bill & Hilary and numerous US Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

This has been a thought in the back of my head about running too, the social aspect and those 'influential' people I'll get to meet locally... That can possibly help later once elected as well as after my stint in office.

Take two people with you whenever you go. They should take notes about the person, their address and anything particular, ie., sick cat, kid just won the swim meet, the vintage car in their driveway. Later have someone from your office type up a personal letter discussing these and hand sign it with a request for their vote.

Good tip - thanks!

And once you win, you are in the driver seat from there on out. Its hard to lose as an incumbent.

This is what I'm thinking, right now, there have been 4 Conservative candidates that ran for the last election and 1 Labour, this round its looking like it will be 3 Labour and 1 Conservative - no Independants, which is what I'll be running as.

Historically, in the past 15 years there has been a single Independant candidate that ra, the only reason they're not in office presently is that they passed away and no other Indie candidates ran lol

[INever]

Practiced on a guaranteed to lose race.

Televised debate, media interviews, labor union endorsement interrogation with their camera 6 inches from face.

For the more influential AND more easily winnable race.

The THREAT level increased.

Two cents advice: Find guys with money (construction, engineers, real estate). Make some promises in exchange for donations and muscle.