On Wednesday I went down the Marshall County Clerk’s Office and filed my paperwork to become a candidate in the May primary for the District 4 Seat on the Marshall County Council.  This is the first time that I have ever filed for office.  Surprisingly, becoming a candidate in Indiana is very simple**.

1. Decide that you REALLY want to run for office: I can’t stress this enough.  Be sure to do your research.  Review past meeting minutes, listen to recorded meetings, and make sure that your family and friends are on-board with your decision.
2. Seriously, do your research: Visit the Indiana Election Division Website and read the 2010 Candidate Manual and the 2010 Campaign Finance Manual.  These manuals are quick reads and can save you from getting fines for missing important dates.  The last thing that you want is bad press for not being able to follow directions!
3. Create a Candidate Committee: My committee is called THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT RYAN RIPLEY.  A committee is required if you want to raise funds and spend money on your campaign.  All you need to do is fill out the Candidates Statement of Organization Form (CFA-1).
4. File the Declaration of Candidacy for Primary Nomination Form: This form puts you on the May primary ballot.  This year, January 20th is the first day that you can file this form.

Congratulations!  You are now officially a candidate for office.  The paperwork is the easy part.  Now for the next four months your job will be to convince the residents in your district that you are the right candidate for the job.  This is also the time to organize your campaign team, decide on your message, design your literature, and many other details that we will cover in future posts.

**I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.  The manuals linked above should be read to fully understand the process.  The suggestions above represent the process in Marshall County, IN.  Your local laws may be different.  When in doubt of how to proceed, contact your Clerk’s office, or check out your state’s election website.