Running for Judicial Office in Miami-Dade County?
Public service as an elected official remains crucial to maintaining the form and function of proper government, as well as our community. Simply choosing to run represents a significant decision and not one to take lightly, regardless if a candidate is a first-time entrant, an incumbent official, or a seasoned politician reentering the political arena.
Any candidate must prepare, ensuring they do this homework to understand the issues that face their community, in addition to formulating their own stance on any number of topics. They must gather a team of focused individuals to help them.
This article focuses on judicial candidates, but any political campaign involves a notable amount of work for a candidate and their campaign team. This takes the form of an exorbitant amount of research and qualifying paperwork, in addition to public speaking, interviews, and fundraising while on the campaign trail.
Judicial elections decide who can become a judge, and judges all across the United States make important decisions on a daily basis that can affect the lives of all citizens. Running a judicial campaign is far different than other elected positions.
Florida’s judicial elections are nonpartisan, leading to most voters looking at things like a candidate’s ability to be impartial, fair, and ethical. Nevertheless, running a judicial election is an exciting time for candidates while remaining exceptionally challenging and necessitating a substantial amount of hard work and commitment.
For newcomers, this may prove intimidating, and filing to run is only part of the battle. When are the election dates in Miami-Dade? What should a candidate do next after filing? Reach Voters is here to help.
The Next Steps After Filing for an Election in Miami-Dade County
Although some candidates think that filing to run and issuing a “Statement of Candidate” is all they need to do, this in no way means that their work is done. It additionally doesn’t mean that the candidate qualifies for a Miami-Dade election.
Every judicial candidate remains responsible for complying with and adhering to all current and applicable laws that govern elections imposed by the State of Florida, Miami-Dade County, as well as city laws in the pertinent jurisdiction that holds the election. Furthermore, Florida law may preempt City Charters and Code Ordinances.
The good news is that Miami-Dade County provides a useful Candidate Qualifying Handbook that outlines useful information concerning the qualifying procedure. This guide contains information in qualifying for a municipal election, campaign finance reporting, applicable county and state laws, and judicial information.
As soon as a candidate announces their campaign, their campaign team should also be prepared to address comments. A wide variety of these positive and negative issues will arise on social media, as well as in news articles.
It’s helpful to develop a team of supporters willing to come to the candidate’s aid and defense online. However, any dispersed communication should respond accurately, respectfully, and consistently.
A common hurdle that may present itself for candidates is fundraising. This is something that intimidates many new entrants into local politics. However, fundraising is about building relationships and getting donors to commit to the cause, playing their part in the story of the campaign.
The Last Bit
Any election from the municipal level, to campaigns for the United States presidency, comes down to one primary goal: getting supporters to the polls on election day. This may seem simple, but it involves raising money and organizing individuals and groups to help engage voters. Candidates must also communicate their message ably and effectively through multiple channels.
It is crucial for candidates to stay consistent, and on message, while keeping accurate records and maintaining schedules. They should also plan for a notable amount of learning, and opportunities that will likely arise for debate.
One the campaign actually begins, what strategies, priorities, and tactics will earn their attention? How should they prioritize infrastructure? In a nonpartisan campaign, how exactly do they campaign for the attention of typically party-oriented voters?
For answers to these questions and more information on judicial elections for candidates and voters, contact our team from Reach Voters today! Candidates can find the election dates in Miami-Dade County set forth by the Elections Department in this handy Election Calendar.
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“Candidate Qualifying Handbook – Miami-Dade County.” https://www.miamidade.gov/global/elections/candidate-qualifying-handbook.page. Accessed 30 Apr. 2020.
