Campaigning for the AMS executive election begins this week and the Journal has put together a campaign wish list for this year’s candidates.
1. Take the job seriously. Candidates sign up for various reasons: to pad a resume, make a difference or even to gain power. Whatever the reason, it’s important that you go in with an accurate conception of what the job entails.
2. Recognize the limitations of the position. It’s important that a team recognize its limitations (such as time and resources) as well as the limitations of each position. Going into the campaign with unrealistic
goals and proposing major overhauls will do more harm than good. It’s a better idea to keep things on a steady path, or initiate change that will take place over a longer time period (meaning years, not weeks).
3. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Teams can’t be re-elected, and therefore face no true means of ability. Although it may be tempting to promise the world, be honest and realistic.
4. Let your character shine through. Hotbutton issues that dominated campaigns in the past, such as tuition, Homecoming and the Queen’s Centre, have more or less died down, making this campaign less about the platforms, and more about the people. It’s important to emphasize what kind of person
you are and the values you find important.
Nobody is perfect, but it’s important to be honest about uncertainties or mistakes. Students want representatives with integrity and good judgment.
5. Be classy and clean. Running a clear and meaningful campaign will mean a lot more than repeating a slogan. If you do have a motto, don’t let it be your entire platform.
6. Don’t overestimate your importance. Realistically, student politics aren’t important to the majority of students, and last year’s voter turnout of 32.3 per cent is still one of the highest in the country. Voter turnout will likely be around the same rate this year so please don’t be a nuisance to those who
are uninterested and push more voters away from the polls.
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