Municipal ElEctions in canada: a guidE for woMEn candidatEs www.fcm.ca The Federation of Canadian Municipalities gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Status of Women Canada. tablE of contEnts Introduction: Why Should Women Enter Municipal Politics? .......................................................................................................................3 DeciDing to Run: PRe-camPaign .................................................................................................................................................................... 4 The Job Description .................................................................................................................................................................................................5 The Time Commitment ...........................................................................................................................................................................................5 Minimum Requirements .........................................................................................................................................................................................5 Useful Experience .....................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Making a Decision .....................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Challenges for Women Candidates ..................................................................................................................................................................7 Assets of Women Candidates .............................................................................................................................................................................7 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................7 YouR camPaign..............................................................................................................................................................................................................8 Registering as a Candidate ...................................................................................................................................................................................9 Campaign Offences ..................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Your Budget .................................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Sample Campaign Budget .........................................................................................................................................................................10 Records of Contributions ............................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Records of Expenses and/or Liabilities ................................................................................................................................................ 11 Campaign Status Reports ........................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Election Expense Limits ............................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Financial Disclosure ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Fundraising ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 The Fundamentals of Fundraising.......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Solicitation Strategies ................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Fundraising Ideas ............................................................................................................................................................................................14 Your Campaign Team ............................................................................................................................................................................................14 Volunteer Recruitment ................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 Sample Volunteer Form ..............................................................................................................................................................................20 Your Campaign Office ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Finding a Campaign Office ........................................................................................................................................................................ 21 When Do You Open? .................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Setting Up Your Campaign Office .......................................................................................................................................................... 21 1 Your Campaign Plan ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 23 Bringing It All Together ............................................................................................................................................................................. 25 Making Promises—Your Platform! .........................................................................................................................................................26 Campaign Planning ......................................................................................................................................................................................26 Canvassing! ......................................................................................................................................................................................................26 The Purpose of Canvassing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 27 General Canvass Strategy ........................................................................................................................................................................ 27 Candidate Canvassing ................................................................................................................................................................................29 Volunteer Door-to-Door Canvassing ..................................................................................................................................................30 Telephone Canvassing ................................................................................................................................................................................33 Election Day .............................................................................................................................................................................................................36 Getting Organized for Election Day ....................................................................................................................................................36 The Election Day Team ..............................................................................................................................................................................36 Two Types of Election Day Organization ..........................................................................................................................................38 Election Day Materials ................................................................................................................................................................................38 Counting the Vote ........................................................................................................................................................................................39