Posted on 02/27/2011 7:52:15 PM PST by LTC.Ret
Good luck!
I don’t know of any campaign managers. Look up the law regarding campaign finance. Of course you already know that.
WIN!
I would talk to some local Republican organizations, maybe call up some local Republican office holders (preferably not the one you are planning to try to defeat).
For purposes of answering your question, I'm going to assume that by "district" you mean Congressional district, and are considring running for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Assuming that's the case, the best advice anyone such as myself who's familiar with how to run and finance a campaign can give you, is to first find someone familiar with the campaign laws of your state, and the federal election rules regarding campaign finance.
One of the things that trips up more first time candidates than anything else is not understanding the federal election laws where campaign finance (what you can accept, how much, from whom) and how to correctly report on those donations to avoid trouble.
Beyond that know your states election laws, specifically around when to gather signatures, what constitutes a valid signature on a petition, the number of signatures to gather to avoid being challenged off the ballot, and the ballot challenge procedures to protect yourself, but also to challenge your opponents right to be on the ballot based on their petitions and signatures.
Best of luck to you.
Not sure you need a “campaign manager”. Any campaign manager you’ll find will be more interested in “campaign” than in “managing”.
Anyway, FReepmail me and we can talk about what it takes to run a business (which is what a campaign is). And good luck. As a conservative, you will have to put up with all the muck that lefties can find to throw at you.
Watch some (LTC) Congressman Allen West for tips about how to handle the muck!
One last thing: The best time to beat an incumbent is during the PRIMARIES. This is where grassroots organization and alot of shoe leather on your part can overcome an incumbents war-chest. A well run grassroots organization that can get out the vote over your opponents is the most cost effective way to unseat an incumbent.
General elections are typically too expensive to unseat incumbents (2010 mid-term Federal elections aside...)
I’ve been running local campaigns for about 10 years. I was also a district coordinator for a congressional campaign last election.
What level of office are you thinking of running for? If it’s city or school board, I would say you wouldn’t need a campaign manager. If it’s county or higher, then yes.
Pose the question to Dick Morris at Dickmorris.com
http://www.dickmorris.com/
Toyko Rove is looking for work.
Oh, and Reps. Quico Conseco and Blake Farenthold...newbies who just got elected in Nov.
If you can manage it, go to the Leadership Institute’s training session on running a campaign.
http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/training/
A veteran of politics told me your campaign manager should be either someone close to the candidate or someone with a lot of experience. I don’t know if that’s true or not. He seemed pretty adament about that.
I would recommend contacting candidates whose beliefs line up with your own and see who they can recommend.
You must have a campaign treasurer. You can’t raise money or spend money without the treasurer. You have to file with the FEC. Download a copy of the Federal Election Commission Campaign Guide (assuming you’re running for a federal office). Familiarize yourself with the rules. Call the FEC if you’re not sure or need clarification.
You need a communications person as well as a campaign manager. And a fundraiser if you can afford it.
Go to the Leadership Institute if you can.
I had no intention of being vague -— just trying not to be too wordy.
I am running for the 13th Congressional District in Texas. I will be challenging a Republican incumbent in the primary. I have already received all the information from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. I have also checked into the Federal rules. I know I need a Campaign Manager and a conscientious bookkeeper. I have read too many websites and articles to count -— and most stress how important a good Campaign Manager will be, especially for me.
I look at it like equestrian activities -— never pair a novice horse with a novice rider if you don’t want to pay medical bills. In this case, I am the novice and know that I need some experience on my team.
Money is your big issue. A good campaign manager is going to cost. I would suggest contacting people who ran this last time (other TEA party candidates) and see who they can recommend. That’s what my BIL has done. He’s trying to unseat a 30 year incumbent.
Good luck! You have an uphill battle but it can be done.
Campaigns & Elections Magazine
http://www.campaignsandelections.com
Winning Campaigns Magazine
http://www.winningcampaigns.org/Articles/WC-Winning-Campaigns-Online.html
Run and Win
http://www.runandwin.com/?gclid=CMTi3tz-qacCFYnt7Qodx3c4CA
How To Win A Local Election, Revised: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide [Paperback]
http://www.amazon.com/Local-Election-Revised-Step-Step/dp/0871318784
How to Win Election Contests in Small Districts
http://www.localvictory.com/strategy/how-to-win-election-small-districts.html
Local Political Campaigns: How to Win an Election
http://www.killercampaigning.com/local-political-campaigns-how-to-win-an-election/
How to Win an Election
http://mises.org/daily/5036/How-to-Win-an-Election
OK, since it’s congressional, you are definitely going to need a treasurer knowledgeable in FEC rules and campaign finance laws, and an experienced campaign manager. It’s your job to campaign, their job to run the organization. You can’t do both.
Start talking to county, district, and state central committee people. There will be a pool of experience out there who have treasurer organizational experience at the congressional level.
Trust no one, verify everyone. There’s as many sharks as good people at that level. There are also alot of newby blowhard buffoons that have no clue how to run a campaign but will act like they do.
Network with people in the conservative circles and activist groups and by making those contacts you should run into that pool of talent and experience. Get a pool of prospects and pick who you think is best, and mostly someone you can trust.
‘treasurer and organizational experience’
Also, since you are running a primary, contact people in the GOP structure discreetly. An incumbent GOP congressperson will no doubt be well networked. A great many candidates get screwed in the primary because people in the GOP party infrastructure lead them down the wrong path with incompetent people.
That’s why I’d also work the conservative activist groups to get a second opinion on who and can’t be trusted.
I know a young man that helped with a state rep campaign in November. He’s based in Arlington, TX, but I don’t know if he’d want to travel that district. He might be able to put you onto someone. I also know a great guy in my TEA Party who helped another state rep win. He’s the most knowledgeable person on Texas politics I’ve ever seen. FReepmail me and I can get you some contact info.
You might contact Freeper Eternal Vigilance, he has experience in that field.
If like minded, you can try the Tea Party in TX. Alternatively, you can review articles to see who successful candidates used in TX. If you ‘google’ “Obama Campaign Manager” you find the person. Same for Reagan, etc. But choose someone more at the State to Local level.
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