The Reform Party is currently seeking candidates for federal, state and local offices, and already has several potential candidates. Ten years ago, the Reform Party held only three offices nation-wide. Through recent rebuilding efforts, the Reform Party, captured seven new offices, bringing their total to ten.
“The Reform Party is looking for candidates for all offices, no matter the size,” stated Reform Party Chairman Nicholas Hensley.
Hensley laid out a plan for running candidates for local office:
There are a number of empty offices the Reform Party could win by entering someone for the race, or having a party member appointed to fill the office. The Reform Party did that from 1996 through 2000, and gained several officeholders that way. There are also a number of undervalued, under-contested races Reform Party members could win with limited resources. These offices range from county wide soil and water boards, to city library trustees, to precinct level election judges.
Reform Party of North Carolina members are already looking at several soil and water board races within the state.
“All politics are local, and whenever we win a local office, we gain a conduit that links us to the local community,” added Southwest Representative Beverly Kennedy.
“When it comes down to third party primaries,” Reform Party Treasurer David Collison “what you have normally is a reaction to the primaries of the major parties. Third parties do well when there is discontent with major party nominees. Once the Democratic and Republican Primaries narrow, our primary will begin to take shape”.
In addition to seeking candidates to run in elections, the Reform Party is also looking for people seeking appointments to local, state and federal boards. Throughout the country there are numerous appointed boards that play a role in public policy, and these positions help the Reform Party build grassroots or prepare members to run for office in the future.
