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Written by Ed Carter from AbleFutures
There’s nothing easy about running for public office. Among many other things, it requires significant personal sacrifice, the know-how and skills to connect with voters, and an unwavering commitment to public service. Not only does it take a toll on you physically, mentally, and emotionally, but it can for those closest to you as well.
And when you have a disability, chances are you will face additional challenges during your campaign. Nonetheless, that shouldn’t stop you from following your dream, and you can actually use your knack for overcoming obstacles and achieving your goals to your advantage.
So, if you’ve decided to make a run for the school board, city council, congress, or any other public office, here are a few pieces of advice to consider:
Be sure it’s what you want to do.
Considering the toll a campaign can have on you and your loved ones, it’s important that all of you are on board with your decision. Also, Political Resources online points out many candidates jump in with misconceptions about running. For example, do you have the experience and skills necessary to give yourself a good chance at winning the seat you’re after? Are you ready to raise money, do a ton of public events, and deal with criticism?
Create a stellar team.
Running a campaign involves more than you and your family—you’ll need to build a team. While you will most certainly be the most essential person in your campaign, your campaign manager will be in charge of overseeing pretty much everything that goes on. And you will need other staff members to help manage fundraising, budgeting, communications, and many other things.
One critical part of your campaign will be how you market yourself, and Juicer explains that your chances will be slim if you don’t utilize social media and the web. By hiring a freelancer to handle graphic design, you can ensure that your campaign produces effective visual content to reach potential voters. Online job boards like Upwork are the ideal place to find such candidates; just examine credentials and look for someone whose ideals fit with your own.
Build your support base.
Obviously, you can’t win an election without great support. Particularly in local elections, this will require you to make meet-and-greets and public appearances a part of your weekly schedule (along with marketing). If you use a wheelchair, you will need to consider any extra steps you will need to take when planning your events, such as getting to places early to set up your ramp and asking residents to meet you outside when canvassing homes.
Running for public office is a challenge for anyone, and can strike fear into the staunchest of hearts. Make sure you are ready to make the commitment, focus on putting together a strong team, handle all the tasks of filing for office, and prepare for building a base of support. And of course, think of any additional precautions you will need to take to accommodate your disability.
