MAPE Rules for Candidate Personal Statements

(Revised November 2020)

The deadline for submission of Personal Statements is stated in the Election Timetable.

All candidates whose names are to appear on the ballot must have timely submitted a personal statement. If a candidate is otherwise eligible to run for a position, and there is more than one eligible candidate, a candidate who fails to submit a personal statement will be declared ineligible and the candidate’s name will not appear on the ballot.

If you are running for a statewide, regional, or local office, please prepare your personal statement as follows:

1. No photographs, graphics, or artwork.
2. No references to other candidates. Write only about yourself.
3. It is helpful to voters to include the following information:

• Name
• Department
• Work City
• Years of state service
• Years as a MAPE member

4. Word limit:

• The word limit for all positions, including statewide, region, local, council, delegate, negotiations committee and trustee is 300 words (Election Rules, Article V, Section 7).

5. The text needs to be in Word or similar format, no pdf format.

Sample of a personal statement from a Delegate candidate:

My name is Jane Doe. I work for the Department of Revenue in Alexandria. I have been a State employee for five years, and a MAPE member for one year. I was picket captain for my building. I have always been interested in unions and see this as a way to get acquainted with MAPE and with members from around the state. What is most important to me is seeing that members’ voices are heard in MAPE. If I am elected, I will work hard to solicit opinions from other members in my Local.

Please email the final copy to swelect@mape.org . If you have any questions, please contact Sierra Plunkett at 651-287-8763.