Update on 1/06/2020: I have decided to reverse my position on this and to just pay the $10,440 filing fee instead of petitions. There are a load of roadblocks with the petition method (no doubt intentional) and I believe my time is better spent mobilizing the Democratic base by getting out to local clubs, caucasus, and events.
I have decided to qualify for ballot access via the candidate petition method in order to save my campaign approximately $10,000. (It is expensive to get on the ballot in Florida!) Please read my message below to a local Democratic club for more information or to get involved.
Hi there,
It was great meeting all of you and joining the Southwest Volusia Democrats club at the January 2, 2020 meeting. I would have gotten involved earlier but having a 10-month-old, teaching, and completing my Ph.D. at UCF this past semester prevented it.
I am running for U.S. Congress against Michael Waltz in the 6th district and Club President Dana Dunmire had mentioned the club regularly signs candidate petitions. I had previously thought I would pay the $10,440 filing fee as a loan or donation to my campaign, but have instead decided I will collect the 5,479 signatures required by March 23, 2020, which will be a lot of work requiring about 100 signatures a day for a safe margin of error, but each signature saves the campaign nearly $2 assuming I get enough of them.
I will canvas for the signatures extensively over the coming weeks including from your club at the February meeting. I have also uploaded the petition form with several items pre-filled here for any who would wish to share it to be printed/filled and given to me in person or mailed to me:
http://thripp.com/files/congress/Blank-Petition-English-Thripp.pdf
Please note the original forms with handwritten signatures and dates from voters must be submitted in-person by myself and that only registered voters within the district are eligible, which includes all of Volusia and Flagler counties as well as St. Johns County south of St. Augustine Beach and parts of Lake County including Eustis. You can enter your address on this page and if “Michael Waltz” appears (scroll past Trump/Pence/Rubio/Scott), you are eligible for my petition: https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/
Please send me a message with your address if you would like to receive a self-addressed stamped envelope along with six blank petition forms by U.S. Mail. I can also receive petitions in-person or by mail to:
RICHARD THRIPP FOR CONGRESS
265 HICKORY AVE
ORANGE CITY FL 32763
I will also visit the Volusia County Democrat Headquarters soon to leave blank petitions with them. I recall last month they had a stack of blank petitions for Sheriff Mike Chitwood’s re-election.
Best regards,
Richard Thripp, Ph.D.
Democratic Candidate for U.S. Congress (FL-06)
Adjunct Faculty, University of Central Florida
http://thripp.com
me@thripp.com
Update on 1/06/2020: I have decided to reverse my position on this and to just pay the $10,440 filing fee instead of petitions. There are a load of roadblocks with the petition method (no doubt intentional) and I believe my time is better spent mobilizing the Democratic base by getting out to local clubs, caucasus, and events.