General

There is a variety of information available at the Green Party of the United States' Coordinated Campaign Committee website, including a campaign manual: http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/index.shtml

Campaign School 101, a PowerPoint presentation put together by two Illinois Greens - Kostas Yfantis and Tom Abram: Campaign School 101

There are ILGP listservs for each level of office.  Join the relevant list to discuss and coordinate with other campaigns:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILGP-Congress/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILGP-Legislature

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILGP-CountyCandidates/

Financial/Fundraising

Before raising money, you'll need to set up a bank account.  Here's a fact sheet on doing that for a campaign: http://ilgp.org/fact-sheets/ploneexfile.2008-02-15.5584981425/

For state and county candidates: if you raise more than $3,000, you will have to file with the State Board of Elections.  Keep very detailed records of your finances in case you reach this point.  http://www.elections.state.il.us/CampaignDisclosure/Welcome.aspx?Selected=Campaign%20Disclosure

For federal candidates: if you raise more than $5,000, you will have to file with the Federal Election Commission.  Keep very detailed records of your finances in case you reach this point. http://www.fec.gov/ans/answers_candidate.shtml

It's recommended to get a treasurer that you can trust (other than yourself) to deal with filing and other financial issues.

Once you've set up your bank account and polished up on campaign finance law, it's time to start fundraising.  As a Green candidate, it is very likely that you will be overspent.  However, Greens are competitive when we are only overspent 10 to 1.  At this level, we can win races.  Brainstorm creative and effective ways to stretch your campaign cash.  Come up with a rough budget with priorities, from essentials to a wish-list.

Don't be afraid to ask for money.  You're the candidate, and this is one of your major responsibilities.  Early in the campaign, send a letter to friends, family, supporters, ILGP members, and Green primary voters requesting donations.  Throw small house parties and meet and greets and supporters' homes, parks, and local restaurants.  Be creative (ie, organic pancake breakfast, silent auction, etc)!  Make sure to set up online donations on your website, using Paypal or another service.  If you don't have an office, have checks (and other campaign letters) sent to a PO Box.  Some fundraising ideas: http://www.grassrootsfundraising.org/

Platform

Make sure that your platform is relevant to the office you're seeking.  While it may be tempting to discuss the Iraq War, there are several more relevant issues for a County Board candidate.  Voters want to hear your stances on issues that you can actually impact.  This is an important step in transitioning from a protest candidate to an electable and realistic candidate.  Talk to current and previous Green candidates who have run for a similar office and find out about their platform.  Find out what jurisdiction would actually have over any particular policy issues.

Make sure your platform is accessible and concise for casual voters, but expand your policy positions for those who want more details.

Refer to various platforms of the Green Party for policy positions.

Illinois Green Party Platform 2004 - http://ilgp.org/about/platform-text

Draft Illinois Green Party Platform 2008 - http://ilgp.org/about/draft-2008-platform-v.07

Common Platform for Illinois Green Congressional Candidates 2008 - http://ilgp.org/about/2008-common-platform-for-green-party-congressional-candidates

Green Party of the United States 2004 - http://www.gp.org/platform.shtml

The Ten Key Values are also helpful in developing a consistent platform, and are useful in describing the party to voters: http://ilgp.org/about/10-key-values

Media and Advertising

It's very helpful to have a media coordinator to send out press releases, organize press conferences, and various other media coordination, especially with larger campaigns.  Even a small campaign would benefit from having someone else in this capacity.

Make sure you follow the correct format for a press release.  Here are some ILGP samples: http://ilgp.org/news

When emailing a press release, never include the names in the To: or CC: fields.  Send individual emails, use the BCC:, or get a press release distribution program.

Remember to include alternative media and blogs in your press releases and other media outreach efforts.  They tend to be more responsive to Green candidates than traditional media outlets.  You can find a list of media contacts in Illinois here: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/illinois_bluebook/2007_2008/news_media/home.html

Forge personal relationships with the individuals at the media outlets.  A press release will go a lot further if you know the person on the other end.

Don't forget about Letters to the Editor!  In many communities, it's easy to get an LTE printed (or even a longer opinion) and it's one of the most read sections of the newspaper.  Write often and encourage your supporters to do the same.  It's amazing what kind of name recognition you can get for being a high frequency LTE contributor.

Use electronic media.  Make your own YouTube videos discussing your candidacy and pertinent campaign issues.  This can eventually be developed into television advertisements or for public access.  Set up a Facebook and Myspace account and groups.

Cable television can be surprisingly inexpensive in certain markets.  This can be a great way to reach target audiences.  For instance, reach the college audience by advertising during The Colbert Report and The Daily Show.  Decent spots can be as cheap as $5.

Radio can be an effective way, and relatively inexpensive, way to advertise.  Offer yourself as a guest on community radio programs.

Think about advertising on buses, trains, and other forms of mass transit.

Website

A website is absolutely essential for a candidate in the 21st century.  It allows voters to learn about your campaign and keep up with your activities.  Frequent updates keep users coming back and plugged in.  A calendar lets the community know about various events you'll be attending.

The Coordinated Campaign Committee has several website templates available for Green candidates: http://www.gp.org/committees/campaign/websites.shtml

Check out other candidates' websites (Green and other) to see what you like in a site.  Make sure your contact information is available at the bottom of every page.

Consider selecting a socially responsible webhost that purchases renewable energy credits or provides free hosting to community groups.

Campaigning

The most important and effective part of the campaign is directly engaging with voters.

Consider a campaign kick-off event to launch your path to victory.

Attend community events, like farmers markets, festivals, protests, etc.

Speak at community organizations, advocacy groups, labor unions, and campus groups.

Canvassing (door-to-door) is a crucial aspect of a campaign, especially for local office.  Gather historical election results and perform precinct analysis to determine the most effective areas to target.  Start early, especially if you have limited volunteers.  This will allow you to cover a larger area and pick up more supporters along the way.   Make walking maps for you and your volunteers for effectiveness.  You can find them at your county clerk or other election authority: http://www.elections.state.il.us/ElectionAuthorities/ElecAuthorityList.aspx

When speaking with voters, mark down their interest level on the walking sheet.  Ask whether they'd be interested in joining the campaign, donating, or at least putting up a yard sign.

Flyer in high traffic areas.  Put up flyers in libraries, local businesses, on campuses, and anywhere else you can think of.

Master a clear definition of the Green Party and why people should vote for you.  Be ready to respond with your favorite response to the spoiler/Nader question (Gore won anyway - voter disenfranchisement in Florida, there were more Democrats voting for Bush than Nader voters, the Greens invigorated voters that wouldn't have voted if Nader wasn't on the ballot, nobody owns our votes, we should have instant runoff voting, if Al Gore was going to be such a green president, then why wasn't he a very green vice president?, etc)

Be polite and presentable.  You're talking to your future constituents!

Campaign Materials

Essential campaign materials are brochures and yard signs.  The standard tri-fold brochure allows a voter to quickly learn about your background and issues.  Make sure not to clutter the brochure with too much verbose text.  Give the reader some nice images and photographs.  Have a professional, high-definition photograph taken for brochures, website, and other campaign materials.  Your brochure should link to your website and various Green sites and have readily accessible contact information.  On the brochure and other campaign materials, say "elect" rather than "vote" above your name.  It reinforces that fact that you actually want to get elected and that it is indeed a possibility!

Make sure your yard signs are crisp and includes basic information: name, office, website, and party.  Green tends to be a popular color theme.

Other possible and less essential materials: business cards, bumper stickers, shirts, pins, etc.

Prioritize local, environmentally friendly, sweatshop free, Union printers and suppliers.  Make sure this is apparent on your materials (include the Union bug or "Labor donated", "Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with non-petroleum ink", etc)

Campaign Staff

Even with a volunteer based campaign, it's important to have specific tasks assigned to individuals.  Consider joint efforts and sharing of resources with other Green candidates.

Some key campaign staff positions (from the CCC manual):

Campaign Manager: The CM is the candidate’s right hand and supervises all aspects of the campaign: strategic planning, scheduling, fundraising, communications, outreach, research, and the recruiting, training and deployment of volunteers.

Fundraising Coordinator: This is not the same as the TREASURER. The fundraising coordinator is responsible for recruiting supporters to host house parties (a.k.a. meet’n’greets or receptions); identifying potential major donors; drafting fundraising letters and preparing mailings; training volunteers to solicit donations through phonebanking, canvassing and direct appeals at house parties; and sending timely thank-you notes (signed by the candidate) to every contributor.

Press Secretary: The press secretary is responsible for writing and issuing press releases and following up with media contacts to ensure press coverage; answering questions from reporters and arranging for reporters to talk to the candidate; arranging for the candidate to meet with local editorial boards for endorsement interviews; monitoring press coverage and complaining about unfair or inadequate coverage; drafting letters to the editor and recruiting supporters to submit them; planning press conferences, rallies, photo opportunities and other publicity stunts; and maintaining current media kits, both in print and online.

Materials Coordinator: The materials coordinator is responsible for the design, content and production of campaign literature, ads, signs, banners and “collateral” (buttons, bumper stickers and other trinkets). This includes working with writers, editors and graphic designers — and with commerical printers and other vendors. In consultation with the SCHEDULER and the TREASURER, the materials coordinator has to determine how many leaflets, buttons, etc., will be needed each week and when they will need to be ordered, and prioritize expenses within budget constraints.

Volunteer Coordinator: The VC is responsible for recruiting volunteers, identifying their skills and interests, matching them with tasks they’re excited about on a schedule that suits them, and ensuring that they’re appropriately trained. Especially on campaigns that have little or no paid staff, it is often advisable to have a deputy VC in charge of recruiting and another in charge of scheduling. RECRUITING includes returning phone calls and e-mail from people who express interest; contacting people who sign up at house parties, rallies or community events; identifying people who have special skills or experience (not just political experience, but graphic design, database management, editing, even catering or group child care); and determining each recruit’s time commitment and availability. SCHEDULING includes identifying personnel needs for each week (in consultation with the SCHEDULER, of course) and calling volunteers to make sure every event, every mailing, every candidate appearance is adequately staffed. The VC also schedules training and TRAINERS for new volunteers; plans occasional parties or treats to thank volunteers; and writes letters of recommendation for key volunteers after the election. If the campaign has interns, the VC works with their schools to enable each intern to fulfill academic requirements.

Treasurer: Filling a vitally important role, the treasurer is responsible for keeping the campaign in compliance with local campaign finance law (or, in congressional and presidential races, federal law). This includes filing reports required by the local election agency, state elections department, or the Federal Election Commission; making a good-faith effort to obtain certain personal information the campaign is required to request from donors (e.g. occupation and employer); keeping the campaign’s bank account and ledger in good order; depositing contributions promptly; reporting names and mailing addresses of contributors to the FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR every week; and, as directed by the CM, writing and mailing checks promptly to pay for approved expenditures or reimbursements. The idead treasurer is attentive to detail and impeccably trustworthy, and has the patience to learn and follow a detailed set of arcane rules. (In most jurisdictions, the election agency offers free seminars or manuals for first-time campaign treasurers.) Also, in most jurisdictions, the “authority line” required on campaign materials must include the treasurer’s name (e.g. “Paid for by Ward One Citizens for McLarty, Philip Barlow, Treasurer”), so it’s essential that the treasurer be comfortable with this exposure and it’s helpful if the treasurer is a well-known and respected member of the community.

Webmaster: Green candidates can obtain website templates from the Coordinated Campaign Committee that can be customized with local content. Whether you use templates or create a web site from scratch, the webmaster (who may or may not be the web site designer) is responsible for keeping the content up-to-date and complete. HTML skills are not required if you use point-and-click web editing software; the ideal webmaster has editorial skills and public relations experience, but the most important qualification is available for quick and reliable updates.

Check out the manual for a plethora of other staff descriptions.

Debates and Forums

Depending on what office you're running for, there may be several debates and forums throughout the campaign.  You may or not get invited to these events.  Be proactive and contact the organizers at the earliest possible stage and request to be included.  Remind them that we received over 10% in a gubernatorial election, we're an established party, and we've had a primary.

It's important to develop a stump speech that you can deliver upon request.  It shouldn't necessarily be memorized word-for-word, but the general points and phrases should be readily accessible.  The time provided for introductions can vary, so make sure to find out ahead of time and be able to adjust accordingly.  You can alter your message slightly based on the audience you're addressing.  If you're speaking to the Chamber of Commerce, consider emphasizing your commitment to small, local businesses and how reducing energy costs would benefit businesses.  This isn't pandering; it's focusing your message.  Make sure your issues are consistent and you don't change your position from place to place, but feel free to change the focus.

Prepare yourself for possible questions with answers from your platform.  Be honest and directly answer the questions.  Voters will respect your for not dancing around the issues, even if they disagree with a particular response.  Write down the questions to ensure you are properly answering them.

Bring as few notes as possible.  It shows your comprehension of the issues better than bringing an entire notebook detailing your position on every single issue.

Invite supporters!

If you're not getting invited to any of the debates, consider organizing your own in coordination with other Green candidates.  Don't forget to invite your opponents and the media!

Endorsements

Seek endorsements from community and other groups early, before they make any decisions - official or unofficial.  Complete questionnaires on time.  A strong platform will make it easier to answer questionnaires, while a good questionnaire may require your to conduct more research and strengthen your platform

Seek help from other Green candidates and supporters if you have any questions.

Don't let absence of endorsements get you down.  Many organizations actually have a policy against endorsing third-party candidates based on "electability" concerns.  Continue to seek endorsements, especially if you get to speak to the membership.  Even if the organization officially endorses an opponent, it doesn't bind their members from doing the same.

In the last few years, Greens have been endorsed by the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization, and the League of Conservation Voters.

Books

The Candidate’s Handbook: Winning State and Local Elections: Harvey Yorke, revised and updated by Carl Yorke
The Road to Victory 2000: The Complete Guide to Winning Political Campaigns-Local, State and Federal by Ron Faucheux
Running for Office by Ron Faucheux, Ronald A. Faucheux
Campaign Craft by Daniel M. Shea , Michael John Burton
Winning Local and State Elections by Ann Beaudry
How to Run for Local Office by Robert J. Thomas,
Winning Political Campaigns A Comprehensive Guide to Electoral Success by William S. Bike, Fran Ulmer
The Campaign Manual, 5th ed. 2000 (A Definitive Study of the Modern Political Campaign Process) S. J. Guzzetta
Against Long Odds : Citizens Who Challenge Congressional Incumbents by James L. Merriner, Thomas P. Senter
Campaigns and Elections American Style (Transforming American Politics) by James A. Thurber, Candice J. Nelson
Campaign Strategies and Message Design: A Practitioner's Guide from Start to Finish by Mary Anne Moffitt
Getting Elected : How Politics Works by Philip M. Seib
Politics the Wellstone Way: How to Elect Progressive Candidates and Win on Issues by Bill Lofy