I just got an email from the greens, I know staydead was asking at some point but if anyone else is interested...
In May 2017, there will be elections to Essex County Council. The Green Party is defending the two seats we won in 2013 but we would like to put up a candidate in every division. To show ourselves as a serious party, it is essential that we contest as many elections as possible. It helps to build our vote as people get used to seeing Green candidates and in addition, we gain valuable free publicity by being on the ballot paper.
Every area where we do not put up a candidate means hundreds or thousands of people are denied the chance to vote Green. We want to give people a choice.
Anyone who has stood as a non target ward candidate in the past will be able to reassure you if you have not stood before that it really is not time consuming by anyone’s definition. As a non target area candidate you are not expected to leaflet or canvass. Nor will you be expected to deal with the media. In the very rare situation that you are contacted, the simple answer is to redirect the enquiry to the local party or regional coordinator for a statement.
Last year John Hamilton stood as the Green Party’s candidate in the Shenfield by-election in Brentwood, John shares his experiences below:
“It was a privilege to stand as a first time Green candidate in the by election . Though I admit to some first time nerves as well! I had no reason to worry. It was a positive and interesting experience from start to finish. In finding voters to support my nomination to being present at the count, everyone I talked to was committed to giving others a fair hearing. I learned a lot and shared many Green views as well.
"This was a seat that needed a miracle to win, so I was involved as a “non-target candidate”. But supporters had a Green candidate to vote for and the free publicity for the Green Party and its policies was invaluable. For anyone committed to the Green position I would recommend giving this a go!”
You can be assured that you stand no chance of being elected by accident. You only get elected after months, normally years of hard work. But as far as the Essex County Council is concerned during the campaign there’s no distinction between candidates.
The only things Green Party “Non-Target” Candidates need to do is quite literally “the paperwork”
• sign forms saying you want to stand as a Green Party candidate (5 minutes’ work)
• someone else from the local party will be your agent (who hands in the paperwork)
• collect 10 signatures from the area with help from the local team or a regional campaign volunteer if needed (more time-consuming but help is on hand)
• you do not have to attend the counting of votes, but of course you can attend the count if you would like to experience the occasion
And of course to remind each and every one of your Green supporting friends to be very sure to vote for the Green Party on May 4th 2017.
Your relatively small input could make a very big difference – standing as a candidate is one of the most useful things anyone can do for the Green Party so please say yes! Do phone or email me if you have any questions.
I think I'm going to put my name forward, something for the bucket list
I think you'll have to be a Green Party member however, so that's about £2-£3 a month if you're fully employed but the cost varies if you're a student etc
