As we approach TIRRC’s upcoming Immigrant and Refugee Mayoral Forum on June 5th, 2023, we want to ensure a fair, transparent, and non-partisan process for selecting competitive mayoral candidates who will participate in this event. Due to the large number of candidates, we are unable to accommodate full participation. The purpose of this memo is to outline the criteria that will be used to determine the eligibility of the candidates and identify the most competitive candidates.
Candidates who meet these criteria will be invited to participate in TIRRC's Immigrant and Refugee Mayoral Forum, where they will have the opportunity to share their policy proposals and vision for the city's future with our community.
The selection criteria will be based on a combination of factors, including but not limited to:
The number of individual donors as of the 2023 Quarter 1 Financial Disclosure period: This criterion reflects the candidate's ability to garner grassroots support and engage with a diverse range of constituents. Candidates must have a minimum of 100 individual donors as of the 2023 Quarter 1 Financial Disclosure period to be eligible for the forum.
Robust campaign team and structure: Candidates must demonstrate that they have a well-organized and professionally managed campaign team. This includes having dedicated staff members for key positions such as campaign manager, communications director, and field director. The campaign must also have a clear strategy for engaging with immigrant and refugee communities and addressing their concerns.
Viability based on polling: To ensure that the forum highlights competitive candidates, we will evaluate the candidates' standings in the polls. Candidates must have a minimum of 4% support in recent polls to be eligible for the forum. This threshold will help ensure that the event remains focused on viable candidates who have a legitimate chance of success in the election;
Or a candidate who currently holds county, city or state-wide public office.