- mayors of Emmett, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Orofino, McCall, Kellogg and Sandpoint;
- public officials in Gem, Shoshone, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Nez Perce, Valley, Ada, Owyhee, Canyon, Bonner and Boundary Counties;
- presidents of North Idaho College and Lewis-Clark State College;
- weekly and daily newspapers, radio stations and television stations around the District;
- council chairs of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the Nez Perce Tribe;
- chambers of commerce in St. Maries, Coeur d’Alene, Moscow, Orofino, Wallace and Sandpoint;
- groups such as the Concerned Businesses of North Idaho and the Intermountain Forest Products Association;
- local union chapters and labor councils, including the Professional Firefighters of Idaho, the AFL-CIO, the Northwest Carpenters and the Idaho Association of Letter Carriers;
- conservation groups such as the Friends of Scotchman Peaks, the Rock Creek Alliance, Trout Unlimited and the Idaho Conservation League;
- and leaders and officials in each of the active local Democratic Party organizations in the First Congressional District.

“I learned a lot in the last three months,” Minnick said. “When I toured the Galena Mines in Kellogg I got to speak with folks who were dealing with tough economic conditions at home. I delivered meals to Meridian seniors who are struggling to make ends meet. And I met business owners in Orofino who are making a go of it despite the effects of this recession.

File Papers – Every state requires a number of papers to be filed before you are an official candidate. The requirements vary by state so be sure that you check to see what your local requirements are. You may need to hire a lawyer to ensure that you meet all deadlines and file the correct forms. This is an important first step so make sure you do it right.

Web Design – One of the first things you will want to do is get a website up and running. You website will introduce you to potential voters, keep them updated as to what is going on in your campaign and a billboard for announcing your ideas to the world. You want to make sure that you build a professional looking site that is both informative and functional. You will want to hire a pro to make sure that you have the best site out there. Search for a firm like Web Designers Austin TX that have experience with political campaigns and understand the importance of updates and SEO.

Twitter – While it may seem silly that you need to have a Twitter account to run for political office, things have changed and younger voters want a candidate that understands both the issues of the day and the technology to deliver their views. Set up a Twitter feed and be sure to link it to your website. Tweet on the issues of the day as well as campaign stops, you can even use it to help raise money.

Staff – There is nothing more important to the success of a campaign than staff. If you are running for a federal office you will need top notch political advisors to help you run your campaign and gain the exposure that you will need to be successful in your bid for office. A Chief of Staff is the first position you should fill and they will help you decide

on other staff candidates such as press secretary and your media team. Everything from your web design team to your volunteer organizer need to be onboard early to get your campaign off to a great start. These people will be invaluable over the next few months so hire carefully and treat them with respect.

Get the Word Out – Launching a campaign requires the media. Calling a press conference to announce your candidacy is the best way to get your name out there. Be sure your website is up and running and has content ranging from your bio to your stands on the issues of the day. You website will often be source material for journalists so make sure it represents you and your concerns on the issues.

Running for office is a huge undertaking, whether you are running for state office from Madison, WI or a Congressional seat, be aware of the commitment that you and your family will be making before you announce you are running.