The Independent's Tool-box

Campaign Manager

You can't afford the luxury of not having a campaign manager. The parties will throw a seasoned political operator into their management of candidates, even sending ministerial staff to assist (contrary to regulations) in marginal seats. The independent usually doesn't have that expertise available.

But you have the advantage of localism. You need to have such a good chance of winning, or doing very well, that there is someone in the community who is prepared to help run your campaign. It will usually be a trusted friend who is dedicated to the independent way.

That person will be running with you for the 12 -18 months of the campaign. His or her real input begins several months out from the election (you can anticipate in most cases when it will occur). The manager needs to plan every aspect (with your assistance) of the campaign.

Ask yourself some questions and make a checklist of the things to do:

• Where will the main campaign office be? How much can you spend on rent and utilities and can you get a lease that suits your needs?
• Do we know anyone who might be able to donate such space? Remember, donations in kind and financial must be declared to the Australian Electoral Commission when you make your candidate's disclosure return.
• You need a flyer to letter box drop to every household (there are about 50,000 in the Calare electorate and 55,000 in New England). An A5 double-sided, two colour folded document is suitable and can also be used to hand out to people you meet when you go on street walks. You might want a second document, but it all has to be costed as you make up your budget.
  
  Download a copy of Tony Windsor's flyer.
• Do you know a local printer who can give you some quotes on letterheads, A5 flyers, car stickers (eg: Bill Brown Can - Make Gwydir Independent), posters for shop windows and trees in friendly paddocks, when the campaign starts?
• Get quotes for advertising early from local radio stations and TV if you have one. Also get quotes from local newspapers. Then work out what you can afford, remembering you will also need at least 30,000 how-to-vote cards distributed in proportion to the expected number of voters at each polling place (you can get the relevant figures from the AEC website); ideally on recycled paper and recycled if possible by the voters on the day.

Your campaign manager will help you round up the supporters/volunteers you need and arrange the booth captains and rosters and the scrutineer (usually the captain) who will check the count at the end of the day's voting and phone in the numbers to your own central tally room.