Starting a political campaign
While I’ve volunteered and door-knocked for other candidates in the past, I’ve never actually run for office myself (until now). On Wednesday morning this week, I took time off work to officially file my nomination papers in person at the Elections Division in the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office in Boston.
As an independent candidate with the Receipt for Nomination Papers certifying that I have more than the necessary 150 signatures, I am the first candidate for the 9th Middlesex State Representative to obtain ballot access for November with the political designation of Forward next to my name on the ballot!
Did you know: Candidates of officially recognized parties in Massachusetts gain access to the November general election ballot by winning the party primary election in September. However, independent candidates (also known as “unenrolled” candidates) may have a “political designation” next to their name on the ballot and gain access directly to the general election ballot in November.
Let’s review some of the steps it has taken to get onto the ballot:
Organizing a Committee: The Office of Campaign & Political Finance (OCPF) in Massachusetts has step by step guides, but as a non-incumbent, independent candidate (with a day job) there were a few hurdles to clear:
Campaigns (or at least those intending to collect donations) are required to have a Treasurer that is not the candidate and also not a public employee! (This seems like it wouldn’t be a big deal unless most of your neighborhood friends work for local schools districts and state universities.)
Setting up a campaign bank account, including filing with the IRS for an Employee Identification Number, which requires visiting a bank in person during normal banking hours. (Fortunately, my treasurer and I were able to visit a branch with weekend hours.)
Filing campaign finance reports online. The OCPF website has several tutorial videos and the staff were helpful in finding these learning materials.
Collecting 150 Signatures: I figured out that I could request to have blank nomination papers mailed to me for free, which saved me a trip into Boston during normal working hours. Then, the real work began:
Creating an official campaign website seems like a necessary first step even if it is not technically required. In addition to having a basic knowledge of how to design a website, I needed to have a campaign debit card to pay for the website domain (the “www.sean.diamonds” address), and associated email address, and a platform to host it.
To limit expenses at this early stage in my campaign (and ahead of any donations other than my own initial deposit in the campaign bank account), I purchased some basic office supplies (oversized clipboards, pens, markers, waterproof folders, etc.) and printed a large QR code so folks could use their phones to find out more about me (rather than paying to print 1000’s of paper fliers).
I announced on the Nextdoor app the days that I was planning to knock on doors in my local ward. Each weekend during March, I went out during the afternoons to introduce myself to neighbors and collect signatures from registered voters.
After collecting more than 150 signatures, I took them into the City Clerk’s office during normal business hours (requiring time off work). Unfortunately, only 142 signatures were certified in the first round, so the following weekend I gathered another sheet worth of signatures at an event organized by local activists supporting transparency, conservation, and action at the Fernald property.
After submitting the second round of signatures, I took them into the City Clerk’s office during normal business hours (again requiring time off work). Fortunately, this time around every signature was accepted!
The following week, I filed my Statement of Financial Interest with the State Ethics Commission, and printed the receipt to be filed with the Nomination Papers.
On Wednesday, April 3rd, I took more time off work to travel into Boston to the Elections Division office during normal business hours to file the paperwork and obtain ballot access.
Nomination Papers Receipt showing that ballot access was obtained on April 3rd.
Beginning the Campaign Process: Now that I’ve officially received ballot access, I am looking to hold campaign events, find volunteers, and collect donations.
As we proceed into the summer, I’ll plan to continue door knocking to meet residents across the city. (I’ll post on Nextdoor to let folks know when I’ll be in different neighborhoods.)
If anyone is interested in volunteering for the campaign, are interested in hosting a campaign event, or have any questions for me as a candidate, please use the Contact form to let me know.