How to Run for Local Office (Mayor, City Council, School Board)
"We build paradise now, with all our imperfection and all our hope. And sometimes that means running for city council."
— Paradise Folk School
A Resource from Beyond Our School: Video Walkthrough
These videos were not created by Paradise Folk School, but we offer them as helpful companions. They walk through the personal motivation and practical steps of running for local office — inspiring, practical, and to the point.
Use these alongside our written Garden Book: A Study Guide. Knowing how to run is how we build paradise now.
Choose your office.
Decide whether you're aiming for mayor, city council, school board, or another local seat. Research what the office actually does. City councils set budgets, pass zoning laws, and oversee police. School boards control school lunch programs, building maintenance, and curriculum.
Check the requirements.
Each city/county has its own filing rules, usually found on the local election commission's website. You'll typically need:
- To be a resident of the district for a set period (often 1 year).
- To be a registered voter.
- To be at least 18 years old (or older for some offices).
- To gather a certain number of petition signatures from voters in the district (often fewer than 100 for smaller races).
- To pay a filing fee (sometimes waivable with enough signatures).
Pull a candidate packet.
Your local election office will hand you a packet containing the petition, financial disclosure forms, and a campaign finance manual. Read it like scripture.
Build a small kitchen-cabinet team.
You don't need a massive operation. Find three people who will be your core: someone to help with paperwork, someone who knows the neighborhood, and someone who can help with messaging. Aim to collect signatures well over the minimum.
Define your covenant message.
You're not just another politician. Frame your campaign around the Common Charter. What specific Article II right will your campaign make tangible Free school meals
File!
Submit your petition and paperwork before the deadline. Once you're on the ballot, the real field ministry begins.
Run a field-based campaign.
Do what we do every Saturday: knock on doors, call neighbors, host living-room chats. Use your political ministry hours. Track them. Use the Charter as your platform's spine.
Official Resources
Charter Connection
Directly serves Article VII, which commands us to engage in political action as a form of preaching. And Article V—Shared Governance. Leadership should reflect the community, starting at the local level.