When starting a new affiliate, focus on local races like School Board, Soil and Water, Planning & Zoning, Fire District, and City Council seats. Candidates in small rural counties might consider County Commission. Decide whether your campaign will be a choice-candidate (never use the term paper-candidate) or a challenger. A choice candidate may answer surveys and interview requests but may not put much time and money into their campaign. Essentially, they just want to offer the public a Libertarian option. A challenger has the intention of putting time and money into their campaign. They will attend events, run ads, and need a volunteer staff. Offer your candidates as much assistance as you can but hold them accountable for their own campaigns. Libertarian candidates should plan on doing 2/3 of their campaign work themselves. 

Sometimes you don’t even need to be elected to influence local decisions, though. Every city and county also has a slew of appointed positions on smaller boards. Make sure to research those positions and qualifications. Sometimes they actually are the real decision makers and the elected positions just rubber stamp it. In many counties, they have a shortage of qualified people in these boards so they’ll take almost anyone. Once one of your members has done a good job in one of these positions, it’s a great resume item for a run for elected office.