by Barbara Pierce

Created on: March 20, 2009

How to Organize a Local Political Campaign

I was an elective official (School Board Member) for seven years. The first campaign was a little foreign to me, because I've never ran for political office before. The second time that I ran for office I began to get the hang of things. There was a third time, but I don't care to talk about that right now. Anyway, after being involved in two or more of my own campaigns, I became the Campaign Manager of someone else. That's when I felt I had became an expert at campaign organizing. So If you ask me about how to run a political campaign. I would try to recommend that you ask someone else. Or I may asked you what will I get out of the deal if I give you the outline of How to organize a political campaign ? Well, If you answer by saying, "You'll get satisfaction." Well... I could live with that. My advice to you will basically be just old common sense, and a big dose of experience. Here are at least ten (10) steps to How to Organize a Local Political Campaign; (1) you need physical bodies; that means people that would actually beat the streets for you. (2) Think very carefully about a campaign Manager, but be careful about chosing the best friend you party with on Friday at the night club. Please don't get the hubby, or the little wife whom doesn't know anything concerning politics. Please don't designate the idiot with only an ounce of organizational skills. These are not good ideas, in fact, without knowledge, or structure, there is no compaign. Select someone you know, or you may not know them personally. But this appointed Campaign Manager should at least be recognized as a hard, energetic and a motivated individual that will lead you to victory. (3) Organize committees; You will need a communication committee, fundraising committee, and a media committee,etc. (4) You will need to schedule appearances on radio, television, or newspaper interviews. (5) You would want to make as many public appearances as possible. The more your constituents see you the more familarize with you they become. (6) Don't forget to qualify, in fact, that should be one of the first steps. This means you have to go to the election board to register, (in order to be considered for the ballot). It is very important for you to know that you are heading in the right direction. (7) You have to know what the issues are, In other words, you will need to have a platform. (8) Get to know all you can about your opponent (s), because believe me they are doing the homework on you. (9) You need Resources like books, or material explaining the responsibilities of all of those committees, and chairpersons you have appointed. Finally, (10) you will defiantly need a financial person to handle the campaign funds. These ten basic steps will at least get you started. With the knowledge of your support system you so carefully selected, and these ten easy steps should cause you a victory. Oh yeah, that's right I forgot to tell you that the third political campaign I ran was a disaster. I lost the election by 18 votes. I wish you the best of luck following these ten basic steps to organize a local political campaign. If only I had followed these ten simple steps in my third campaign to hold my position, well lets just say, it would have caused me a What ? a VICTORY !

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