Thank you to all of the speakers and attendees at the You Can Run Virtual Program. The event was a great success and lots of great information about connecting with campaigns and running for office was shared.
Email communications.director@harforddemocrats.org if you’re a registered Democrat in Maryland and want to receive a recording of the You Can Run Virtual Program.
There’s never an “off-year” in politics. That’s why an upcoming virtual program is helping Harford County residents connect with Democratic campaigns and showing that it’s feasible to run for office.
The You Can Run Virtual Program will be on Sunday, May 23, 2021 from 3-5 p.m. Attendees can register for the free program at bit.ly/YouCanRunHarCo.
The You Can Run Virtual Program is jointly organized by the Harford County Democratic Central Committee (HCDCC) and Harford County’s African American Democratic Club. Another goal for the event is to get young people involved with local politics.
“We realized that if we engage the people who are local — politicians or young, up-and-coming politicians — it will encourage the youth to be curious, to want to be part of what is happening within their communities,” said HCDCC member Isaya Mutombo during the organization’s April meeting. “We also wanted to encourage young people to get involved locally through volunteering.”
The You Can Run Virtual Program is for anyone who wants to run or volunteer for a Democratic campaign. Elected Democrats and local candidates will speak about their experience running for office and other topics to help others get started.
Candidates and Democratic organizations will have the opportunity to recruit volunteers at the event. Topics the speakers will cover include why citizens should run for local office, campaigning and doorknocking, what it’s like being an elected official, bridging the political divide and more.
Program speakers and topics:
- Noureen Badwi, Young Democrats of Maryland president — Volunteering 101
- Kevin Bianca, Bel Air Town Commissioner — Why citizens should run for local office
- Justin Butler, Maryland Democratic Party Organizing Director — How to create a campaign plan and finance it
- Diane Fink, Director of Emerge Maryland — Writing your elevator speech
- Allison Galbraith, Maryland Democratic Party 2nd Vice Chair and former MD-01 Democratic primary candidate — Making the decision to run and what to do beforehand
- Dave Harden, 2022 MD-01 Democratic primary candidate; Jen Pingley, 2022 MD-01 Democratic primary candidate — Examples of an elevator speech
- Adam Hiob, Aberdeen City Council Member — What it’s like being an elected official
- Andre Johnson, Harford County Council Member – District A — Community outreach as a candidate and how local politics impacts communities
- Mia Mason, 2022 MD-01 Democratic primary candidate and 2020 MD-01 Democratic nominee — Grassroots campaigning and doorknocking
- Heather Mizeur, 2022 MD-01 Democratic primary candidate and former Maryland Delegate — Bridging the political divide