Candidate Application Questionnaire
Once you have completed this portion of the application, you may email it as an MS Word (.doc) attachment to [email edited]. In the alternative, you may fax it to [fax edited] or mail it to: [snail mail edited].
Please do not forget to also download and sign the Candidate Contract, as well as email a photo to [email edited] or mail to the address above.
1. Please provide supporting information to demonstrate that you meet each of the basic candidate criteria.
• Be openly gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender;
• Demonstrate electoral viability;
• Publicly endorse federal Gay/Lesbian Civil Rights Legislation, and similar state and local anti-discrimination laws or legislation;
• Advocate aggressive public policies and positions relevant to HIV/AIDS research, education and treatment; gay and lesbian health and wellness; and women’s reproductive freedom.
2. Briefly describe why you have chosen to run for public office.
3. Have you ever officially sought or held any political office? Please give complete details, including offices and dates.
4. Fully describe all additional political experience, including service as a campaign or party staff member, volunteer, fundraiser or consultant.
5. Fully describe the extent of your community involvement and how that experience relates to your qualifications for public office. Describe any community support for your candidacy.
6. Have you ever participated in a political training conducted by a political party or other organization? If so please list the sponsoring organization, the dates of your participation and a short description.
7. Honestly describe your most notable strengths and weaknesses as a candidate. Thoroughly address any personal or professional circumstances which may have the potential to threaten your candidacy, and your strategies for overcoming them. Include driving records, civil suits, bankruptcy filings, etc.
Your Race:
8. If you are seeking state or local office, describe the current makeup of the elective body for which you are running. If a judgeship, please include a copy of all sections of the local judicial cannon of ethics dealing with campaigning for office.
9. What communities, groups or population segments make up your voter base? Why do you consider them your base? What percentage of the voting population do they represent? Be as specific as possible.
10. Describe the demographics and past voting behavior of your district and how they impact your ability to win. Please use election years similar to the one in which you are running. Explain in detail and include poll data if available.
11. List the name and office of every gay or lesbian candidate who has been elected to office in the jurisdiction where you seek election. Is there a history of openly gay or lesbian candidates running for office in the jurisdiction where you seek election? Include any details you can.
12. Please list and provide detailed descriptions of your primary and general election opposition. Note any incumbents and include potential candidates who may not have officially announced their candidacy. Address both favorable and unfavorable aspects of their candidacies. Are any opponents running as openly gay or lesbian candidates?
13. What endorsements have you and your opponent(s) sought and/or received? Please list endorsement, description of the endorser, and who has received it or who is likely to receive it.
14. Fully describe any matters outside your campaign that may impact your race (e.g., an initiative on the same ballot).
Your Campaign:
15. Describe the present or anticipated structure of your campaign organization, including paid and volunteer staff positions.
16. Who is your campaign manager and what is his or her previous campaign experience?
17. What consultants have been hired for media, polling and/or fundraising? Please describe their background, experience and extent of their relationship to your campaign.
18. Do you have the results from prior elections or any prior election data by precinct for use in targeting?
Your Strategy:
19. What is your campaign plan and strategy for winning?
20. Which demographic groups will you target and how?
22. What is your campaign theme or message?
23. What issues will you emphasize?
24. How will you identify your supporters and get them out to vote?
25. What role will volunteers play in your campaign? How will you recruit and manage them? How many will you need?
Your Campaign Finances:
26. What is your budget for both the primary and general elections? Please attach detailed expense and income budgets.
27. What communities or groups make up your base of donors?
28. Describe your fundraising plan. How much have you raised to date and from what sources? How will your raise the rest of your budget? Include a breakout by categories such as major donors, individuals, PACs, corporations, direct mail, house parties, etc. How much cash do you have on hand?
To be clear about our mutual responsibilities and obligations, we have drafted this contract. You must accept these terms by checking the box at the end of the agreement before any decision on your endorsement can be made.
1. The Fund endorsement is for the current election only.
2. Endorsement by the Fund does not imply an electronic or mail solicitation to our donor network.
3. The timing, frequency and extent of candidate electronic communications and mailings are at the complete discretion of the Fund.
4. If the Fund does include your candidacy in an electronic or mail solicitation to our donor network, we reserve the right to stop contributions to your campaign at any time.
5. If during the course of the campaign, the candidate fails to provide the Fund with the information specified in this contract, the recommendation will be suspended and all contributions will be stopped.
This includes compliance with items 1, 2 and 4 upon receipt of the Fund endorsement.
6. Candidates who do not make a good faith effort to fulfill the terms of this contract will be ineligible for future Fund recommendations, and subject to an immediate stoppage of current campaign support.
The Fund Agrees to:
1. Appoint a Fund staff liaison to your campaign.
2. Provide access to Fund staff for advice on campaign matters.
3. Promote your candidacy in the media and to the Fund membership.
4. Send you all contributions we receive for your campaign, via first-class mail, up until the close of the election when such contributions will be sent overnight.
5. In the unlikely event that contributions are disrupted for any reason, the Fund will return them to their respective donors. Under no circumstances will the Fund hold contributor checks longer than 10 days.
Candidate Letter of Agreement Page 1 of 3
6. Ensure the confidentiality of all campaign information not meant for public broadcast, including the disclosure of fundraising goals and factual totals, up until the date of your current campaign’s general election date.
The Candidate Agrees to comply with the following items:
1. Appoint someone from the management of the campaign to serve as liaison to the Fund.
2. Add the Fund to your campaign and press mailing lists.
3. Include the Fund on appropriate campaign literature and press releases.
4. Communicate with the staff liaison in a timely manner, all information (both positive and negative) about campaign developments, including:
a. Revisions of campaign strategy
b. Fundraising results
c. New endorsements
d. Changes in key campaign personnel
5. Share the cost of solicitation mailings done by the Fund for your campaign.
6. Send thank you letters to all members who contribute to your campaign within three weeks of receiving their donations. The letter should include reference to their membership.
7. Upon request, provide the Fund with the following in a timely manner during the course of the campaign:
a. Copies of all your direct mail and walking pieces
b. Copies of all newspaper clippings referring to your campaign
c. Copies of all your media spots, if applicable
d. Copies of all pertinent polling data, if applicable
e. Copies of all your press releases
f. Copies of all your campaign disclosure reports
8. Provide the Fund with your gay and lesbian campaign donor list in the pre-approved format, within two weeks after the end of your election date.
9. Suppress the names, addresses and telephone numbers of Fund contributors from your database and agree that you or your campaign will not trade, sell, or solicit them in any way.
10. Consent to the use of name and likeness for Fund promotion.
11. Sign at least one fundraising appeal for the Fund.
12. Agree to make at least two public appearances for the Fund at a time mutually convenient to the candidate and to our organization.
Candidate Letter of Agreement Page 2 of 3