Independent political candidates struggle to build name recognition and campaign infrastructure without party support

Independent candidates running for local office face significant barriers in gaining visibility, organizing volunteers, and competing against established party-backed candidates who have built-in donor networks and campaign machinery. Current solutions like traditional media and grassroots organizing are expensive, time-consuming, and ineffective at reaching voters in fragmented local markets. Candidates like Allan Fung must build entire campaign operations from scratch while competing against well-funded party alternatives.