CXLD: Candidate Academy 2026

Date and Time

Saturday Mar 14, 2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM PDT

Location

Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber
950 Pacific Ave., Ste 300 (Third Floor)
Tacoma, WA 98402

Fees/Admission

Tuition:
$100 for Chamber Members
$200 per person for Non-Members
Sponsorships are available. Please contact info@tacomachamber.org.

Website

https://www.tacomachamber.org/candidateacademy.html

Contact Information

Julie Anderson, Senior Directory of Advocacy
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Description

What is the Candidate Academy?

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber presents a unique opportunity for local, civic-minded individuals who are considering running for office. The program will assist participants in determining whether to throw their hat in the ring or how to otherwise get engaged.

Participants will meet local elected officials and community advocates to learn about the process of running for office. The program will cover many of the major steps and focus on making the decision to run. Participants will learn about the differences between various levels of government and elected positions, and will become better equipped to serve as a candidate and elected or appointed official.

This intensive 1-day primer will cover the following with speakers who are leaders in the political sphere around Tacoma and Pierce County:

Civics 101: How Governments Interact, and Work
Panel: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of Politics, or How to Survive being a Candidate and Elected Official
Campaign Strategy and Operations: Putting the Pieces Together
Election Filing Guide
Fundraising and Event Planning
Getting Out Your Message: Media, Mailings, and Doorbelling
Managing Your Campaign: People, Process, and Budget

Benefits:

Become better prepared to run for office
Learn about government interactions
Network with local leaders and elected officials
Gain a basic understanding of campaigns

Application:

To receive an application, please email Julie Anderson, Senior Director of Advocacy.