What to Expect as a Candidate
Applications for 2025 are now closed.
The Screening Committee
The officers of the Hamburg Democratic Committee, along with other members selected by the Chair, will function as a Screening Committee. Their role is to recruit, interview, and vet potential candidates who are seeking the Committee's endorsement. Members of the Screening Committee will meet with you and guide you through the process. You will be required to fill out the Candidate Application Form and participate in an interview with the committee members. Additionally, the Screening Committee may conduct a background check. The primary goal of the Screening Committee is not to eliminate or discourage potential candidates, but rather to ensure that they have a clear understanding of what a campaign involves and that they possess the necessary tools to face the challenges of running for office.
Endorsement Vote
All candidates will have the chance to present to the entire committee, answer questions, and address any concerns before a vote for endorsement takes place. Candidates are also encouraged to reach out to committee members individually. At a meeting scheduled for early February, all 72-plus members of the Hamburg Democratic Committee will have the opportunity to vote on the endorsement.
Petitions
If you are the endorsed Democrat, the Committee will support you in several ways, primarily by helping you gain ballot access on the Democratic line. Candidates must submit 500 valid signatures to run for office, but aiming for 1,200 is recommended to avoid potential challenges. Members of the Committee will collect these signatures door-to-door on your behalf.
Coordinated Campaign Team
The Committee will form a campaign subcommittee to support you and your fellow candidates. Led by experienced campaign leaders, the subcommittee will assist with endorsements, messaging, fundraising, volunteer coordination, campaign finance filings, voter outreach, and selecting messaging channels. Bi-weekly meetings will help keep all endorsed candidates on track.
Ground Troops
Committee members will assist you in several ways. They may make phone calls, visit their neighbors, and send letters to friends and family encouraging them to support you. They might attend your fundraisers, write letters to the editor, stand outside polling locations on Election Day, or help put up your signs. While some Committee members may contribute more than others, everyone is expected to play a part in supporting your campaign.
Resources & Institutional Support
The Committee has built relationships with campaign professionals, businesses, and organizations that can offer discounted campaign materials. Additionally, access to data collected from previous campaigns will help create voter contact lists, ensuring that your efforts and resources for reaching out to voters are as efficient as possible.
Time Commitment
Campaigns require a significant time commitment, so it’s important to know what to expect. You should be prepared to spend at least three nights a week knocking on doors or making phone calls to potential supporters starting in early summer. Familiarity with the issues facing Hamburg is essential, and you should be ready to discuss them confidently. You will participate in community events, speeches, volunteer rallies, fundraisers, and campaign meetings, dedicating about 15 to 20 hours each week. Be sure to inform your family, friends, and employer about this commitment before seeking endorsement.
Financial Commitment
Candidates running for positions such as Supervisor, Councilmember, Town Judge, and Highway Superintendent need to raise between $20,000 and $25,000, especially if a primary election is involved. Our candidate for Supervisor will require a significantly higher amount. Generally, the more funds raised, the better the chances of success. After endorsements are secured, a personalized budget will be created. To meet these fundraising goals, you may need to organize several fundraising events, reach out to friends, family, and professional networks, or utilize personal funds. Additionally, you may be asked to support the Committee, which will use the funds to bolster the overall group effort.
​
Campaign Team
You must recruit a volunteer treasurer and a campaign coordinator. Your campaign team will allow you to concentrate on engaging with voters by managing various essential tasks such as organizing fundraisers, printing campaign materials, recruiting additional volunteers, and more. To build your team, you should reach out to your personal network to find volunteers. These volunteers will be tasked with making phone calls and knocking on doors to support your candidacy.
Teamwork
This is a collaborative effort. You, your campaign team, and your volunteers must work with the other endorsed candidates and their teams. This coordination will help maximize resources across all campaigns. The Coordinated Campaign Team will help identify key issues, define the voter universe, and design materials that reinforce the campaign theme. While you control how to use the funds and resources you raise, it’s important to involve the Coordinated Campaign Team and fellow candidates in the decision-making process.
Privacy
As a candidate or elected official, you will be in the public eye, subject to criticism and judgment. Your past may be scrutinized by opponents and the media, and your statements can be misinterpreted. Falsehoods might also be circulated in flyers to your family and friends. It is critical to be open and honest with the Committee about your past, as addressing potential issues early can help your campaign. Remember, as the endorsed candidate of the Hamburg Democratic Committee, you represent its members, so please conduct yourself accordingly.
Our Committee
The Hamburg Democratic Committee consists of 72+ community leaders and Democratic activists dedicated to improving our Town by electing representatives who embrace progressive principles. Many of the more than 72 members of this Committee have devoted years to supporting Democratic candidates in our community. They have actively circulated petitions, participated in committee races, knocked on doors, donated money, and promoted our candidates. If you do not receive the endorsement of this Committee, please respect their decision, as they have worked hard to earn this authority.
Timeline
Here is the timeline regarding the application and endorsement process. Dates are subject to change.
-
December-February 8 - Potential candidates submit applications
-
January 27-February 14 - The Committee interviews potential candidates to determine recommendations
-
February 20 - HDC meetings to hear from candidates and vote on endorsement (dates/time TBD)
-
February 20 - Candidates notified about HDC endorsement vote
-
February 21 - Final candidate names provided for petitions
-
February 25 - Petition process begins
Party Officers & Screening Committee Members
Terry MacKinnon, Committee Chairman (716) 712-6520
Erin Oliver, Screening Committee Chair, Committee Secretary (716) 913-5420
Ruth Hasseler, Committee Vice Chair (716) 648-2537
Matt Kibler, Committee Vice Chair (716) 864-3350
Patti Michalek, Committee Vice Chair (716) 308-3420
Cheryl Potter-Juda, Committee Vice Chair (716) 390-2999
Joanne Hahn-Smith, Treasurer (716) 432-8661
Jackie Andula, Sergeant-at-Arms (716) 465-9068
Mike Amodeo, Screening Committee Member (716) 982-1229
Nicole Falkiewicz, Screening Committee Member (716) 316-1194
Peter Murphy, Screening Committee Member (716) 289-8950
Natalie Nitsche, Screening Committee Member (585) 746-5027
Tom Pemberton, Screening Committee Member (716) 627-7752
Carly Story, Screening Committee Member (716) 863-4773
Resources & Information
Hamburg Democratic Committee
Erie County Democratic Committee