I was a campaign manager for a state representative candidate 4 years ago. I had quite a bit of grass-roots experience, but not a lot of campaign management experience...but with the limited budget and resources, it was all he could afford.
I would recommend going to any campaign schools and networking with more than just local Republican organizations. Join Lions, Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, Rotary, type clubs in your neighborhood to meet more people. Listen to what they say...what issues are important to them...don't talk too much (a weakness that I have), but sincerely listen to the issues that are concerning them and how they propose they be addressed. Formulate campaign strategy/platforms based on your neighborhood opinion. Wave to your neighbors, talk to them, interact with them...they can be your best supporters or your worst enemies.
Keep your closet clean and keep positive. I also recommend that you get yourself onto some community boards like a library board, a police board, or other citizen committees...it is a great way to get to know people, get your name out there, and increase name recognition. Write a few letters to the editor and volunteer.
Remember that running for office is opening your life up to scrutiny. Don't wear your emotions on your sleeve, but develop a thick skin really early because political campaigns have turned into slug fests.
Good luck...I encourage and support you. Feel free to contact me by Freep mail if you want more specifics. Good luck and thanks for being busy and dedicated to the conservative cause.
If you're in the Kansas City area, that's what it will take to have any shot at winning.
Tell me your platform and I'll tell you if I'd vote for you. Of course, I don't live there, but you asked.
What is the proper role of government in a free society?
Better buy a big jar of Vaseline.
Prayers on the way already!
Best of luck to you.
"Whatcha all think?"
Sure I will vote for you, what do you pay?
/:)
Okay, but please run as a term-limited candidate.
Medical marijuana is a loser if you are against that, guess you have never been in pain. Even the conservative state of Arizona approved that.
ERA? is that still alive?
Anything else against her, if not and she is cute you lose.
Don't just join Republican clubs. You need to be networking in middle-o-the-road groups like the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary/Elks/Kiwanis/KofC/JayCees, etc. to make your name known as much as possible.
If you have a particular expertise, it would be a good idea to volunteer that expertise at particularly apt times to media to get any exposure you can. Name recognition is huge at the local level.
Block parties are also a good idea so that your own neighborhood gets used to you (if it doesn't already know you well) and is ready to vote for you.
There's a lot of good advice on this thread, and in addition I'm including a questionnaire that we gave to people who were thinking about running for office. It helped weed out a lot of folks before they made fools of themselves. Be brutally honest with yourself when answering the "Political Viability & Electability" section.
Right to Life
Would you support a law that would prevent abortions, other than to prevent the death of the mother?
If it were not possible to pass such a law, would you support a law that would prevent abortions, except those to prevent the death of the mother, when the pregnancy is the result of forcible rape, immediately reported to law enforcement agencies), or when the pregnancy of a minor is the result of incest, (with the perpetrator reported to law enforcement agencies)?
Public opinion surveys have shown that the public is overwhelmingly opposed to abortion as a means of birth control (87%), yet 43% of abortions are now repeat abortions.
Abortion is used as a method of birth control, such as contraceptives or natural family planning. People use birth control to space children, to avoid interference with a career or education, or for a variety of other motivations that all have one thing in common: the desire to avoid having any child at this time. There are other categories of abortion that might be sought even by someone who genuinely wants a child: abortions performed to prevent death or serious physical health damage to the mother, or in cases of rape or incest, or in cases in which the unborn child would have serious disabilities.
For purposes of clarity and enforceability, a law preventing the use of abortions as a means of birth control defines such abortions as covering abortions other than those in the five categories described in the previous sentence.
Would you support a law that would prevent the use of abortion as a means of birth control?
Babies are often aborted in the U.S. just because they are the "wrong" sex, usually female. In one survey of medical geneticists, 60% said they would either perform sex-testing for sex selection abortion, or refer to other geneticists who would do so.
Would you support a law that would prevent abortion for sex selection?
Would you vote for a law to require parental notification before abortions are performed on minors?
Would you support a law to require parental consent for abortions performed on minors?
A Woman's Right to Know law would ensure that women considering abortion are informed about medical risks of the procedure and are given an opportunity to read information about agencies that provide alternatives to abortion, as well as objective, scientifically accurate information about the development of the unborn child.
Would you support a "Woman's Right To Know" law requiring that doctors provide information on the development of the unborn child, alternatives to abortion, and medical risks of abortion before an abortion is performed?
Would you support an educational program to provide information about the development of the unborn child and about alternatives to abortion?
Would you support a law to get government out of the abortion business by preventing the use of state facilities to perform abortions not necessary to prevent the death of the mother, and to prevent state employees from performing, referring or counseling for abortions, other than those abortions necessary to prevent the death of the mother?
Would you support a law to prevent the use of tax payer funds for abortions other than abortions to prevent the death of the mother?
If it were not possible to pass the previous law, would you support a law to prevent the use of tax payer funds for abortions other than abortions to prevent the death of the mother, when the pregnancy is the result of forcible rape (immediately reported to law enforcement agencies), or when the pregnancy of a minor is the result of incest (when the perpetrator of the crime is reported to a law enforcement agency)?
Would you oppose the establishment or funding of "school based "clinics" in secondary schools, unless they are explicitly prohibited from performing abortion counseling or referral or referring to any entity which counsels for, or refers for, or does abortions?
Would you support a law to protect living human embryos from being used for medical experimentations that would harm or kill them, including so called "embryonic stem cell research, that would require the killing of human embryos?
Would you support a legal prohibition on all human cloning, including the cloning of human embryos?
Would you oppose legislation that would permit the cloning of human cloning, including the cloning of human embryos?
Would you support legislation that would protect the lives of infants born alive as the result of an abortion?
Crime & Law Enforcement
There has been a lot of recent discussion on the creation of a "Drug Court" to specifically handle those related crimes and offenses. What is your position on this? And, If you are in support of it, how do you propose its funding?
What is your position on the creation of a statewide Public Defenders Office? How would you compare funding that agency as opposed to the court appointed attorney system?
With recent concern involving the issuing of identification at the DMV, should the Court continue to assemble its Jury Pool from DMV lists? Should this method be preferred over the Jury Pool being selected from lists of registered voters?
How would you characterize the importance of efficient communication and cooperation between the Commonwealth's Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Department? What effect has Loudoun County's current situation had on its community as it relates to effective prosecution and investigation?
In the past there has been discussion of creating a county police force, with a police chief appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The Sheriff’s department would retain responsibility for managing the jail and serving papers, such as warrants, for the courts. Do you support the creation of a county police force?
Education
Would you be in favor of the government building a hospital to provide health care services to a particular geographic area, and then requiring the residents of that region to use those facilities in case of illness or injury?
Give us your thoughts on the public school monopoly.
Do you think all children should have equal opportunity in, and equal access to, education?
Should parents be in charge of their own children’s education, or not?
Buzzwords in the current education debate include “standards” and “accountability.” In regards to standards, how can we ensure the best quality education product at the lowest possible cost? (Answer: Competition) In your opinion, to whom should schools be accountable? (Answer: Bureaucrats or Parents)
Do you think “public education” and “educating the public” are synonymous? If they are not synonymous, on which would you place the greater importance?
Do you think “public schools” and “educating the public” are two sides of the same coin?
As a potential officeholder, if you had to choose between either supporting public schools or supporting the education of the public, which would you choose?
As a member of the school board, would you perceive your job to be overseeing the public schools, or overseeing the education of the public?
In your mind, does government supporting the education of the public mean that government must run the schools?
As a local government officeholder, to whom are you accountable for the provision of efficient, cost-effective education?
Please discuss the relationship between money for education and quality in education.
Please give us your thoughts on the likely impact of Zelman v. Simmons-Harris.
It is the perception of some on the LCRC that candidates often dramatically underestimate the amount of time and work that would be required by the office they seek. This can cause a well-meaning person who was a good candidate to unwittingly become a “pawn of the staff.”
Land Use & Zoning
Do you believe that a landowner should give his consent before the government takes any action, such as downzoning, that affects his property's value?
Do you support downzoning? If so, should compensation be given to affected landowners? If so, how would this compensation be formulated?
Do you favor incentives that help preserve open space? If so, what?
Do you favor PDR's (Purchase of Development Rights) as they exist and are applied in Loudoun County?
What is your opinion of the "by right" use as it exists now before the new General Plan is implemented?
Second Amendment / Firearm / Hunting Questions
For County-Level Candidates:
In 1986 the Commonwealth of Virginia has passed a firearms “preemption” law, which (except for hunting), prohibits localities from regulating the sale, transfer, possession, and carry of firearms. In spite of this law other northern Virginia local governments, most notably Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria, all passed regulations prohibiting the public from carrying firearms in county facilities, such as libraries, police stations, parks, recreational centers, etc. These localities had to be sued by private citizens into complying with the law - the counties lost in court. Would you support such a county regulation or ordinance?
Loudoun County passed an ordinance in 1985 prohibiting firearms in county parks that is “grandfathered” under the preemption law. Do you support or oppose repealing this ordinance?
The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority wants to prohibit anyone, even concealed-carry permit holders, from bringing a firearm into a park under its jurisdiction. It states that it is not bound by the Commonwealth’s “preemption” law since it has more jurisdiction than a local or county-level governing body. What is your position on this?
What are your thoughts on the prohibition on shooting rifles for any purpose in the eastern part of the county, despite the fact that in many areas it is perfectly safe?
What is your opinion of the recommendations made by Firearms Commission in December of 2000?
Would you support managed deer hunts in Loudoun County parks to bring the deer population down to a healthy level?
Taxes
1. Would you support a tax increase?
2. In your opinion, is Loudoun County’s spending growing too slowly, at about the proper rate, or too quickly?
3. In two years Loudoun County’s debt service will be $120 million per year. What would you do to slow the County’s exploding debt?
4. Which Loudoun County government programs should be trimmed? Which should be eliminated?
5. Today, of the total revenues flowing into Loudoun County’s coffers eighty-four percent is derived from residential sources and sixteen percent is derived from commercial sources. The previous growth in commercial tax revenues is now all but flat. How would you broaden the tax base so that the exploding debt of the county will not fall totally on the backs of the homeowners?
6. Do you support this November’s ballot referendum to build two new high schools at $65 million apiece, each of which is anticipated to open at less than fifty percent occupancy?
7. Do you favor the continuation of the current land use program?
Political Viability & Electability
Personal Life:
Is your family comfortable with you being away often, having late nights out, receiving possible hate mail/threats, fielding constant phone calls, etc?
Is there something going on in your personal life (e.g. divorce, child w/ behavior or drug problems, close relative who is ill, pregnant wife, etc.) that would take time away from campaigning?
Financial / Support:
Can you afford to take several months away from your job to campaign?
Can you afford a job change for four years should you win?
Will you or your spouse be negatively impacted in your jobs if you run as a Republican? If you win?
How do you plan on raising money for your campaign?
Have you raised any money so far? If so, how much (more or less)?
Who have you approached about endorsements and support? What have the responses been?
Commitment:
How much time do you plan to spend each week campaigning?
How much time do you think you will need each week to perform the duties of the office you are seeking? How would you fit these hours into your current schedule?
Have you researched the opposition in the other Party(ies)?
Have you researched the voting patterns (turnouts & demographics) for the past few primaries & elections in this voting district?
Which method would you prefer that the LCRC to use to select its nominees: Primary, Convention, or Party Canvas?
If you do not win the nomination for this position, would you be willing to fully support and endorse the nominee?
If you win the nomination, will you allow your name to be associated with candidates who are not running as Republicans?
If a stronger candidate files for this office, would you be willing to step aside?
Background & Criminal History
Have you ever been arrested?
Have you ever been charged with a misdemeanor?
Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor?
Have you ever been charged with a felony?
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
Have you ever had a restraining order sworn out against you?
Would be willing to show the CSC a copy of your criminal background check (the Sheriff's office can print one at minimal charge)?
Have you or an organization that you represent ever sued the county or any town in the county?
Have you ever been involved in civil litigation (small-claims action, lawsuit, divorce, custody battle, class-action suit, etc.)?
Have you or a company owned/managed by you ever filed for bankruptcy?
Would you be willing to show the CSC a copy of your credit report?
Is there anything about you that you wouldn't tell your mother or your priest?
Go for it.
The first thing anyone should do if they are cosidering running for office is contact your local GOP headquarters. There are many reasons for doing so, not the least of which is to save them the trouble of recruiting someone else. They can offer you lots of advice, training, help, money and other things.
Good Luck.
Hey, if this guy can win, you'll always have a chance
"'Mystery candidate' wins election to school board post"
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20041107-121428-4710r.htm
Do it.
RUN