To learn how to run for city council, start with your city clerk: confirm the seat is on the ballot, check residency and age rules, then file within the filing window. Utah and Minnesota do not list prior experience as an eligibility rule.
Local seats are a common first step into public life, and they are a core part of women in politics. Rules differ by state and city, so use the examples below to know what to ask your own clerk.
Local offices to consider
The choice depends on what you want to influence and how much of a policy role you want. The order below is a suggested sequence for a newcomer, not a ranking of importance. The criteria are what the seat does, how a candidate gets on the ballot, and how well it suits a first-time candidate. A Lawrence University career center guide notes that council, school board and mayor positions often give direct influence over local issues. It names local infrastructure, schools and public safety as examples.
City council
City council is usually the most direct first seat for a newcomer. According to the Minnesota Secretary of State, council members can propose ordinances, set administrative policy and authorize the budget the mayor proposes. City offices there typically carry a term of two or four years.
This suits candidates who want a say in budgets and local rules. It does not suit anyone who wants to run a department day to day. Terms and powers are set by state and local rules, so read your own city’s description of the role before you commit.
School board
A school board seat suits a candidate whose priority is local schools. The same Lawrence University guide lists schools among the issues that local offices can influence directly. Which education seats appear on your ballot, and how they are filled, depends on where you live. The local election office can tell you before you start planning a campaign.
Mayor
Mayor is the executive seat. Minnesota describes the mayor as the head of the city, able to represent it before other government bodies. The same description has the mayor presiding at council meetings, appointing city workers and vetoing ordinances, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State.
This suits a candidate who wants an executive role and is ready for the visibility that comes with it. Check whether your city’s mayor holds these powers, because the Minnesota description does not apply everywhere. For a first campaign, a council seat is often the lower-stakes way to learn how city government works.
County commissioner
If you are asking how to run for county commissioner, begin with the county elections office rather than the city clerk. The Lawrence University guide stresses that state and local offices have their own regulations. County filing dates, fees and petition rules therefore follow your state and county, not the city rules used as examples here.
This suits someone interested in county-level services who is willing to learn a separate filing process. Ask the county elections office which seats are up and what paperwork they require before you collect anything.
Local offices compared
| Office | What it does | Getting on the ballot | Planning use |
|---|---|---|---|
| City council | Proposes ordinances, sets administrative policy, authorizes the mayor’s proposed budget (Minnesota description) | File with the city clerk, who lists the offices on the upcoming ballot | Suits most first-time candidates who want a policy and budget role |
| Mayor | Heads the city, presides at council meetings, appoints city workers, can veto ordinances (Minnesota description) | Same clerk-run filing process in Minnesota | Suits candidates who want an executive role. Confirm your city’s mayor holds these powers. |
| School board | Direct influence over schools | Ask your local election office what is on the ballot | Suits candidates whose priority is education |
| County commissioner | County-level seat. Duties and rules follow state and county regulations. | Contact the county elections office | Check county filing rules early, because they are set separately from city rules |
Role descriptions come from the Minnesota Secretary of State and the Lawrence University career center.
How to run for city council step by step
The steps below follow the order a clerk’s office will expect. Details come from Utah and Minnesota and show what to look for, not what your city requires.
- Ask the clerk what is on the ballot. Minnesota’s guidance is to contact the city clerk to learn which offices will be on the upcoming ballot. The clerk is also the contact for special elections.
- Check eligibility. Utah requires a municipal candidate to be a registered voter in the municipality and to have lived there for 12 consecutive months immediately before the general election. It also bars candidates convicted of a felony. Minnesota asks candidates to be at least 21 years old upon assuming office and to have maintained residence in their district for at least 30 days before the general election. Age limits vary, so see our guide to age requirements to run for office.
- Mark the filing window. Windows are narrow and tied to the election calendar. Minnesota’s 2026 filing period runs May 19 to June 2, 5 p.m., in cities where a primary is possible. Where no primary is held, it runs July 14 to July 28, 5 p.m. Utah’s page shows a declaration window of June 1 to June 7, 2021, by 5 p.m., in municipalities not using the rank choice voting pilot. Treat these as examples of how short a window can be, and get your city’s current dates from the clerk.
- File with the clerk. In Minnesota, you submit an affidavit of candidacy and the filing fee to the city clerk during the filing period.
- Use a petition if a fee is a barrier. Minnesota lets a nominating petition stand in for the fee. The number of signatures required is the lesser of 500 signatures or 5% of the total number of votes cast in the last general election for that office. Ask your clerk whether your state offers the same option and how many signatures it takes.
Running for local office with no experience
Yes, you can run for local office with no political experience. The Utah and Minnesota candidate pages list conditions such as voter registration, residency, age and the felony bar. Prior office or campaign work is not among them. The Lawrence University guide calls running for local office a great way to begin a political career.
What a newcomer lacks is usually familiarity, not eligibility. Where your city’s meetings offer public comment, speaking at one is a low-cost way to hear how decisions are made. Reading what a seat does before you file helps in the same way. If local service leads to a bigger ambition, our guide on how to run for state legislature covers the next step.
Time commitment and pay
The clearest supported figure is term length. City offices in Minnesota typically run two or four years, so a win commits you for that period, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State. Meeting load and compensation are set place by place. Before you file, ask the clerk and current officeholders what the seat pays, if anything, and how many meetings it involves. Then check that against your work and family schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Which local offices are partisan, and which are nonpartisan?
City council, school board, mayor and county commissioner are the seats covered here. Whether a given race carries a party label depends on state and local rules. Ask the city clerk or county elections office how your race appears on the ballot.
Can I declare my candidacy by mail?
It depends on the state. Utah requires you to declare in person unless you are out of the state throughout the declaration period. Ask your clerk whether your city allows any other method.
Is there always a filing fee?
No. Utah says some municipalities may charge a filing fee, so the amount and whether one applies are set by the individual municipality. Your clerk can confirm the figure.
Do I need a lawyer or campaign advisor?
It is not a requirement. The Lawrence University guide recommends consulting an election attorney or campaign advisor early in the process to stay compliant. It also notes that state and local offices have their own regulations.
