Post submitted by James Rector, HRC Arkansas Field Organizer

On the eve of the filing deadline in Arkansas, a group of more than 30 people participated in a unique event to meet the candidates running for office in Little Rock. This is the second year that HRC Arkansas has presented “Legislator Speed Dating” in partnership with the Stonewall Democrats of Arkansas.

Each candidate sat at a table with a group of four to five local constituents and had 10 minutes to answer questions from each group. When the time was up, the hosts rang a bell and the candidates rotated counter-clockwise to the next table of constituents. After each table had its chance to ask questions one-on-one, the floor was open to ask a broader set of questions.

This event is the beginning of public education sessions that HRC will be offering in the Natural State leading up to the 2018 elections.  In March, HRC will begin the first in a series of “Campaign Boot Camps” that will provide comprehensive training and a behind-the-scenes look at all of the work that goes into a successful campaign.

Participants will have the opportunity to tools and tips that make a campaign great, including who the individuals are that make up a campaign staff; why outreach is a key to success; voter registration tactics; what data systems are used; phone banking; door-to-door canvassing; visibility; tabling; social media and more.

For more information contact James Rector, HRC Arkansas Field Organizer, at james.rector@hrc.org