How to Win a Local Election

by Lawrence Grey

Overview

More of a "must-do" book than a "how-to" book, How to Win a Local Election guides readers through the campaign process detailing what they need to accomplish along the way in order to be victorious. Here you will find information on planning and organizing a campaign; how to run as an independent candidate; the various roles of people in your compaign; campaign procedures and techniques; and how to use computers, the internet, and emails to both manipulate and disseminate data. The book also offers useful advice on issues from financial reporting to developing a campaign theme and strategy, how to win "one precinct at a time," and even offers tips on such fundamental tasks as the creation and placement of yardsigns and billboards. New to the third edition is a CD containing forms and data that will be the "starter kit" for your campaign: as sample campaign plan; and initial planning worksheet; a week-by-week campaign planning form; a nominating petition worksheet; a sample volunteer card; a directory of state elections officers and state codes; and instructions on how to work with databases.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590771310
Publisher:	M. Evans & Company
Publication date:	09/04/2007
Edition description:	3rd Edition
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	6.08(w) x 9.09(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Lawrence Grey is a retired judge who served on the Ohio Court of Appeals. He lives in Lexington, Ohio.

Table of Contents

Foreword   Haley Barbour     x
Foreword   David Wilhelm     xi
Introduction     xii
Planning and Organizing the Campaign     1
The Office You Want to Run For     3
Election Statistics     10
Local Election Laws: Getting on the Ballot     18
Financial Reporting     28
District Geography and Demography     36
Talking to an Old Hand     43
Campaign Theme and Strategy     49
Party, Nonpartisan, and Independent Candidates     56
Computers: Using Them in the Campaign     65
Campaigning: The People     81
You Have to Have a Plan     83
Scheduling and a Calendar     92
The Campaign Manager     98
Getting a Volunteer Coordinator     106
The Candidate     113
Money and Fund-Raising     124
Winning It One Precinct at a Time     136
Campaign Procedures and Techniques     143
Literature: The Campaign Brochure     145
Getting a Good Mailing List     156
Doing a Mailing     162
Radio and Television     173
Newspapers     185
YardSigns and Billboards     196
Going Door to Door     206
Miscellaneous Things That Ought to Be Mentioned     214
Introduction to the Appendixes     223
Sample Campaign Plan     227
Initial Planning Worksheet     234
Week-by-Week Campaign Planning Form     236
Nominating-Petition Worksheet     242
Sample Volunteer Card     244
Sample Scheduling Form     245
Directory of State Elections Officers     247
Glossary of Terms     252
Index     257

Editorial Reviews

This nuts-and-bolts, do-it-yourself guide to running for and winning one of the nations's more than 500,000 local offices... spells out the details of planning and organizing a campaign... [and] making effective use of basic campaign procedures and techniques.

Booklist

This nuts-and-bolts, do-it-yourself guide to running for and winning one of the nations's more than 500,000 local offices. . . spells out the details of planning and organizing a campaign. . . [and] making effective use of basic campaign procedures and techniques.

Booklist

Though Republican National Committee Chairman Haley Barbour and former head of the Democratic National Committee David Wilhelm disagree about most issues, both supply forewords to this nuts-and-bolts, do-it-yourself guide to running for and winning one of the nation's more than 500,000 local offices. Grey, an appeals court judge in Ohio who has served for nearly two decades in various elective offices, has a .667 batting average (he won four of the six campaigns he waged). Opening with the decision to run, his manual spells out the details of planning and organizing a campaign, recruiting staff and volunteers, and making effective use of basic campaign procedures and techniques: literature, mailing lists, newspapers, radio and TV, yard signs, billboards, and doorbell ringing. Appendixes provide a glossary, a list of state election officers, and sample worksheets and forms that walk the would-be candidate through the process Grey recommends. Timely, practical advice for readers who feel they have something to contribute to their local schools, parks, water districts, municipalities, or counties.

Mary Carroll