How to Get Started

First I picked up the forms at the County Clerk's office in downtown Lexington. There are three forms: your intent to seek public office, the campaign finance form, and the petition.

For state offices, the first form needs to be dropped off at the Secretary of State's office in the Capitol building in Frankfort. For local offices, just drop it off with the County Clerk.

The second is turned in when you file your petitions. It's best to start at the lowest (and simplest) level and refile if you raise above the limit (yeah, right). Thank you Senators McCain and Feingold.

If you choose to run as a Republicrat, you probably won't need to worry much about the petitions. If you are running as an independent or third party, however, this will be the most difficult, and perhaps, the most expensive part of your campaign. For example, 5000 is the number of signatures you'll need to run for a state-wide office.

Fortunately, for State House, I'll need only 100 signatures, all of which must come from registered voters who live in the 79th District. To account for mistakes, challenges, etc., it's best to collect 50% or more over the limit. Which means I need at least 150. These have to be turned in by August.

That's it for now. I'll make a progress report in a few days.

Now I've Gone and Done It

I've considered this for a number of years and now I've gone ahead and done it.

I've filed my candidacy for the Kentucky House of Representatives, 79th District, under the Constitution Party banner.

While thinking this through, I thought it would be good to leave a record of my experiences that would be available to anyone else who wants to make an unconventional, i.e. independant or third party run at political office. It's my hope that this blog will be beneficial, even if just as a guide for how not to do it.