This year's Shreveport City Council races will have several contested races.
For the newcomers jumping into a council race, here are some suggestions.
This list is not exclusive, but it covers many points that may/may not be known. Most of these are not rocket science, but seemingly candidates always overlook what should be obvious.
The first two guidelines are very critical. The others are important but not listed in any particular order of significance.
1. Learn your district lines. Or better yet, wait until the Shreveport city council adopts new district lines based upon the results of the 2020 census.
2. Accept the fact that the day you announce will be the high point of your campaign unless you win the election. Your exuberance and excitement will only go downhill starting the day after your announcement.
3. Realize that you will get tons of advice on how to run your campaign, but very little actual help. And that the mayor's race will always get more press and glory than your campaign.
4. Review the city ordinances on political signs. Where they can be placed, and the size of the signs are important and reflective of your credentials as a candidate.
5. Get your pocketbook ready to pay expenses. Raising funds is not fun and it’s difficult to generate a reasonable campaign budget from your friends.
6. Watch council meetings by livestream or by video to get some ideas of what issues are council issues versus mayoral or state issues. And learn how to count to four, which is the magic number to get legislation enacted.
7. Study the rules on campaign finances and the requirements for filing campaign finance reports with the Louisiana Ethics Administration. Failures to comply with these rules is not only costly with imposed fines, but also campaign fodder for your opponents.
8. Be honest in your campaign materials when listing your accomplishments and credentials. Expect every word to be scrutinized by opponents and politicos.
9. Be wary of your social media posting, both personal and on a campaign website. in today's electronic word, a simple misstatement can quickly become a social media windstorm that cannot be erased.
10. Start living immediately a fishbowl life. What you say, what you do, where you go, how you dress, who you hang out with, etc. etc. will become campaign factors to many voters.
11. Get ready for a major change in your life schedule and priorities. The campaign will become more and more of a time eating monster that will dictate your life and that of your family.
12. Be ready to suddenly have a campaign companion that will go with you to church, the grocery store, work, social events and even to bed. As the campaign goes along the baby will get bigger, heavier, and more intrusive.
13. Prepare yourself for panic days when you think the campaign is not going well. And be ready to second guess yourself of what you do or do not do along the campaign trail.
14. Count the days until the primary so you realize how long a grind you are setting yourself up for. Realize that pacing your efforts will be critical for your sanity and physical health, as well as family members.
15. Start a list of how many times you ask yourself what did I get myself into. And realize that this is a "norm" for a first-time candidate.