A few notes from the Running for Office forum

Right off the bat, Bob Kievra, T&G city editor cites blogging, Facebook, and Twitter as new sources and resources for those running for office. "We must be of the internet, not just on the internet" (citing there the "old" media, but encourages candidates to do the same) "Those who are successful see the power of the internet...saw that in the national election."
"We can't be everything to everyone anymore," he says in answer to a question about coverage of the Worcester election.

John Anderson, former mayor of Worcester, contrasts his first election (for Congress in the 1970's, which he lost), when he walked the congressional district. "It really is important to talk to people, to talk with people, to listen to people...to let them tell the candidate what's on their mind...representative democracy...can only represent by listening to their concerns."
"We the people are YOU."
"Yes, we can!" We can make a difference. "Anyone running should clarify in their own mind what they want to do."
He was concerned about overdevelopment, put a moratorium in effect, and then changed land use policy.
What are you (we) as candidates concerned about?
Need people with ideas who have answers to these questions.
Campaigning is fun! You should enjoy it. It isn't a chore. It's a point of engagement with the community.
Well advised to have a good campaign manager (his was Tim Murray).

Jabian Gutierrez, community activist and organizer
worked with Barbara Haller and Mike Moore
putting a team together: family (you're never the candidate by yourself), managers, treasurers, fundraisers, workers. Campaign manager keeps you on task and shields the candidate. Treasurer with name recognition (brochures have the treasurer's name on it; easy way to show who supports you). Little donations make a difference (again cites Obama).
creating a message: what do you bring to the table, why do you want to run for office. You have to be able to answer why you're running and why one should vote for you. Hard question to answer. It may develop over time.
strategy: counting backwards from deadlines.
Media person keeps the movement of the campaign going (website, press releases, always moving forward).
Door-to-door; people appreciate having the door knocked on. If no one else touches that door, people remember that you took the time to be on their street. They'll remember your name.
GOTV: getting out the vote. Coordinated campaign to get people out. Database of supporters. People holding signs on the day of. People calling supporters. Poll watchers to find out who has/has not voted. ;
Things change at a moments notice in politics.Need to land on your feet.

Jason Tait, MA Office of Campaign and Political Finance
keeping your name out of the newspaper (you don't want his name in the same story as yours)
"We're not out to get candidates"
disclosing things to the public
go through thousands of candidate information (including our at-large candidates); school committee and district files with the city
(at-large candidates get special checks; banks keep track)
public employees have "to stay away from the money"
cannot accept money (and you can't take cash over $50) directly or indirectly (gathering information, for example)
public employees can hold signs, make phone calls, stuff envelopes, drive voters
can't fundraise in public buildings (senior center, library)
rarely get to the level of criminal code ch. 55; usually want to educate the public
get gov't addresses out of email lists; that's soliciting in a public building if they open it at work
Campaign finance bill at the State House: subvendor reports (can't give money to a contractor and then not report where it goes from there); personal use is especially of concern; legal defense fund has to be disclosed; city councilors have to start filing with the state: THIS IS A PROPOSAL RIGHT NOW. Late fee goes up to $25 a day, and they could pull you from the ballot in future elections.
$500 limit per person; name, address for all donors; donors over $50 have to be itemized; over $200 you need position and employer
expenditures: "to enhance your political future, so long as it's not primarily personal" Interesting choice of example: going to the golf course is personal? campaign?
Questions: call

Gladys Rodriquez-Parker (working for Jim McGovern)
met her husband while doing community activism (she refers to him as "a nice Irish boy")
WPS are 35% Latino, 51+% minority
over languages spoken in the city
very diverse city: great place to run for office
"if you're not growing, you're dying"
in 1991, people were throwing away communities: why bother going to a particular street, as they don't bother to vote?
People want to hear that you're going to fight for them, that you're going to do for them that you'd do for anyone in the city of Worcester
Shoe leather...big digital divide in the city
"in Puerto Rico you do politics as if you're breathing"
knowing your voters, knowing the communities
singled out the Spanish surnames on the registered voters list in the Election office
a great number of children in these communities
"Can I count on your vote?"
Don't forget to ask for the vote!
Do what you say you're going to do;keep your word.
Have someone with you who speaks the language, if needed in a neighborhood.

Joshua Meduna, assistant director of elections in Worcester
the guy who takes your forms
met his wife running a parliamentary campaign in Uzbekistan
city website: one of our greatest resources (you can find elections under the city clerk office)
all forms are up on the city website (who gave what to whom)
all elections are up back to 1980's
if people are not registered at their address, their signature won't count
people can register as they are signing BUT TURN IN THE REGISTRATION FIRST
July 28 at 5 pm
various lists: who has voted, who hasn't voted, can use as a mail merge
glad to see people (as he's the last fulltime person working at the office)