Maybe You Should Run for Office: Here’s How to Start — and Why It Matters

Running for office can feel intimidating. The paperwork, the fundraising, the organizing —  many people imagine politics is something better left to others. But as longtime Montgomery County leader Virginia Servies points out, democracy needs voices from all corners of the community.

Servies, who serves as Chairperson for the Montgomery County Democrats, acknowledges the reality many potential candidates face: “A lot of people don’t run because they don’t think they can win,” she said in a recent conversation. She admits she has run and lost herself, but she insists that even showing up and giving voters a choice changes what happens in government. “It’s better for the community when multiple perspectives are at the table,” she said.

That belief underpins a new set of trainings and resources created by the 4th Congressional District Special Projects Group. Created by Matt Meagher and members of the special projects group, these materials break down the process of running step by step. The point, Servies says, is not that every person who attends will run immediately, but that anyone curious will walk away knowing “where to start and how to start.”

According to the CD4 campaign guide, the first step is deeply personal: deciding if you truly want to serve. Running for office means long evenings, weekends knocking on doors, managing finances and paperwork and putting your name – and your ideas – before neighbors who may not always agree. Successful candidates need determination, family support and a willingness to listen carefully to others.

That last part is crucial. Servies says what makes a candidate strong isn’t knowing all the answers but asking good questions. “We have to listen with patience,” she explained. “Not assume what people are thinking, but ask them.”

Getting Organized

Once someone decides to take the plunge, the guide explains how important it is to set up properly before making any announcement. Candidates should:

• Choose a campaign name that can be reused in the future.
• Set up a dedicated address – typically a P.O. Box – for campaign mail and donations.
• Open a campaign bank account with its own tax ID number to keep finances separate.
• Recruit a treasurer who is careful and trustworthy, since campaign finance law requires meticulous recordkeeping.

From there, a candidate can start thinking about strategy: Will you emphasize face-to-face conversations? Social media? Mailers? Each choice depends on the size of the race, the budget and the candidate’s strengths.

Even the smallest local races benefit from some kind of campaign committee, whether it’s a few volunteers or a full team that includes a chairperson, field coordinator and events planner. The guide’s emphasis, Servies points out, is that “no one is out here on this limb by yourself.”

Running for office requires paperwork – lots of it. For example, in Indiana, candidates file a Declaration of Candidacy form, a financial disclosure, and if running for school board, a petition of signatures. Servies says many first-time candidates are surprised to learn how early the deadlines fall. “People think you can wait until October to decide, but you can’t,” she warned. To get on the ballot, candidacy must be declared in January, with a hard deadline in February for the primary ballot.

That’s why she stresses planning: “You’ve got to have a calendar. You can’t just say, ‘I’ll start whenever.’ Everything runs on deadlines – filings, fundraising, early voting. You need a plan.”

From campaign logos to yard signs, from social media posts to casual conversations, communication is at the heart of running for office. CD4’s guide recommends candidates develop a “message” – a few key points that express why they are running and what they hope to contribute. Servies put it more simply: “You need an elevator pitch. Be ready to tell someone quickly why they ought to vote for you.”

But communication isn’t just talking. Servies emphasizes listening – at doors, at community events, in conversations with neighbors who might not agree. “We need to hear what people need from their government,” she said, “not just assume.”

For Servies, the lack of competitive races is one of the biggest problems in local politics. In the 2024 election, she points out, there were no Democrats on the local ballot for county offices. That left many voters feeling discouraged and shut out. But she is quick to add that the principle goes beyond party labels. When whole slates go unopposed, communities lose out on debate, accountability and the benefit of competing ideas.

“We are a two-party system,” she said. “And when only one party is in control, you’re not reflecting the full body of the community. We need Democrats, Republicans, independents, libertarians – different perspectives. That’s the way we are supposed to operate.”

Running for office, in other words, isn’t just about winning. It’s about making sure voters have choices, families have a voice and local government reflects the community it serves. Even a losing campaign demonstrates that someone cares enough to show up, put in the work and represent a viewpoint that otherwise might be invisible.

Servies and her colleagues also emphasize mentorship. Experienced candidates and party leaders can be powerful resources to guide newcomers. The CD4 guidebook and training series cover everything from volunteer management to finance obligations, so no one has to reinvent the wheel. Mentoring or apprenticing with other candidates builds the confidence and resilience to run a campaign. As with many worthwhile ventures, like writing and entrepreneurship, candidates may fail. It helps to fail forward and with mentors who remind you that it’s not how many times you fail, but that you get up after each failure.

Guidance, coupled with encouragement, can make the difference for someone who has been quietly wondering if they have what it takes. As Servies put it, “The first thing people need is to want to do it. The next thing they need is support.”

Not everyone is called to run for office. But every community needs people who will. Servies acknowledges it’s hard work – but she says it’s also rewarding. “It shows the community that we’re here, that we care and that we’re going to give it our best shot.”

For anyone curious about how to run for office, join the training at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Crawfordsville Public Library. Attendees will learn about more critical information about filing deadlines, campaign structures and how to build a message – and, perhaps most importantly, they’ll walk away knowing they are not alone.

Note: Running for office is a citizen right and responsibility apart from political party. The process and procedures are the same regardless of party. We reached out to members of the Republican Party, but did not hear back by time of publication. The LWVMC is a non-partisan organization, supporting voting education, voting rights and crafting local policy statements to inform and educate citizens on democratic processes.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, multi-issue political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government. For information about the League, visit the website www.lwvmontcoin.org; or, visit the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County, Indiana Facebook page.