"Candidate" means any individual who seeks nomination for election or election to public office. An individual seeks nomination or election when the individual first:
(1) Receives contributions or makes expenditures or reserves space or facilities with intent to promote the individual's candidacy for office;
(2) Announces publicly or files for office;
(3) Purchases commercial advertising space or broadcast time to promote the individual's candidacy; or
(4) Gives consent to another person to take on behalf of the individual any of the actions in subsection (1) or (3) of this section.