What about linking to an opponents web site? It seems absurd when you first think about it but how many candidates acknowledge their oppositions existence besides firey rhetoric aobut the evils of their competitors campaign?

Here's a few ideas:

1. A section (perhaps a sub-section to the volunteer page) to volunteer to put a yard sign in your lawn. In local races, these are important.

2. A media section with RSS feed. This is especially important in more urban areas like Orlando, Tampa or Bartow.

3. An online poll. Jim Davis has one but I think it would be really good for a local campaign. For example: What do you think is the number one issue in Polk County (transportation, schools, environment, crime, etc.) It makes the site more interactive and demonstrates a willingness to listen.

4. An endorsement page. But not just endorsements from VIPs. How about also including endorsements from 73 year-old Leslie.

5. The candidates photo and name on every single page.

6. Contact info on every single page, including phone number and address.

Josh, this is a great post. I may be calling you (soon) to help me.

The poll page is sort of a good idea but it can be manipulated by a candidates opponeents supporters.

Interesting that most of these ideas would work in UK political campaigns as well. I agree with Bob's additions especially the volunteers page and local 'real people' endorsements.

I'd also add:

1) password protected members' area with campaign guides/materials to download
2) Grumble sheet to report local problems the 'crime and grime' issues
3) Useful information - become a resource and point people to public and voluntary sector organisations that might be able to help them

Your post includes the minimum any candidate should have. Those items you chose can be put together very inexpensively...

For those candidates with pockets not so deep, it's a viable way to get your message out. Plus you get a "bigger bang for your buck."

It's amazing to me that most candidates for the Hillsborough County Commission don't even have a website, much less the minimum noted above.

You have some great ideas for getting a low-budget campaign up and running. I like that you are not only focusing on the campaigner, but also on the volunteers themselves. Without them and their volunteer efforts there would be no campaign.

My only suggestion (and yes, this is coming from a college student) would be to try to do something that targets the young voters. I know this idea has been pushed and pursued significantly in past elections (Bush v. Kerry was huge in bringing young people to vote), but those were mainly presidential elections, not locals. With college towns like Auburn, AL, home to Auburn University where I am now, local politicians are essential to the upkeep of the university and surrounding town, which is comprised mostly of college students. Last year's student population alone was more than 30,000. However, I rarely hear of local politicians trying to reach out to the young voters.

I realize the towns that have contacted you are unlikely to be college towns, but the fact is, every city has a high population of 18-30 year olds. Assuming that most of that young population is staying in the town for a given amount of time, this young group of people really have the potential to make or break a campaign.

Your ideas of having a blog and e-newsletter for the campaigner provide a simple, yet effective way of reaching young, busy, technology-savvy voters. As I am learning everyday...blogging is becoming all the rage and more and more young people are focusing their efforts into them.

I agree with Monica's comment on focusing on younger generations. I noticed in the candidates photo galleries there were hardly, if any, pictures of the candidate working with or speaking to younger voters. While it would be nice to see a feature of a younger volunteer for the candidates campaign, I do not think it would have more of an impact than an actual photograph of the candidate interacting with young adults. It could be pictures of him working with young volunteers or speaking at a college campus.
I do think blogging is an excellent step towards communicating with the young voters since it is an up and coming technology, but since it is new to many young adults, we must not forget the technologies that work, such as the E-newsletter which many young adults would be willing to sign up for considering email is what keeps most college students alive, so excellent idea there.

My favorite comment on this topic is the online polling idea, perhaps even having a different poll on each page of the website, or having a new one each week to find out what issues are important to the voter. Those voters who are interested enough to check out the candidates website will be those who are going to want to express their thoughts and opinions on the candidates position on issues. Interactivity is key, especially in grabbing the interest of the young demographic. As a young voter, I would appreciate a comments page where I could express my viewpoint to the candidate with an easy way to email the candidate to show support or share concerns.

I think blogging is obviously a great way to get the word out about the candidate, but for return readers, something would need to be added to spice it up a bit, the best way having the candidate actually writing the posts himself as a travelogue of his campaign trail perhaps. Honestly, I have been to candidate websites where someone else did the blogging for them, and I became disinterested very quickly.

And I love the idea about volunteering. As the director of a volunteer program on Auburn’s campus, people made connections through the volunteer program. Students who might have never met each other were becoming friends through the bonds made on a certain project. Recognizing the volunteers for their actions shows the important people of the campaign-those that do the legwork. Again, like others who have commented earlier, I am only a college student from a small town. But these are ways that would persuade me to visit and re-visit the webpage.

I love all of your ideas for the campaign website. I think it is a wonderful idea and would be helpful. I also agree with the majority of the comments made already about the polls and reaching out to a younger audience.
The poll idea has it benefits, but it can backfire as someone mentioned already. The opposing side could get on there and vote for their candidate resulting in an incorrect poll. The supporters of the candidate that the website is all about could also get on there and just vote a ridiculous amount of times to give them an edge. It would be a great way to get feedback and see how the candidate is doing in the campaign.
The blog is a great idea, of course. I think it is starting to appeal to a younger audience and could reach more people. Now that I have been introduced to blogs, I will use them more often and read different ones. I agree with the E-newsletter being a good resource keeping everyone updated by email because just like Crista said a lot of college students can't live without their email, but I know bunch of adults that can't either.
Another suggestion that was briefly mentioned was the media section. I think that would be a good tool to have on a website so anyone could go read any stories or articles that the media puts out about that candidate. It is always an excellent idea to keep the media informed about what is going on with a political candidate and this website, and blog, would be a great way for them to get story ideas as well as updated information.

I love your comments and information about producing websites for local political campaigns. It is important for campaign websites to engage users at all times. A Candidates website should serve as an online information center that funnels information directly from a candidates heart. A Candidates heart should be the core of the campaign and campaign website. When I say heart I am meaning in terms of what they believe in, what they stand for and how they seek change for people. The content, tone, look and feel and theme should all portray elements that reflect the campaigns overall theme and mantra. The different functionalities ie. polls, blogs, photo galleries, newsletter etc. serve as the vessels that transmitt the information. All in all it all works together. Thanks
again for your great insight!