Orientation to the Political Landscape

A political landscape is the combination of the political culture and history of your community. Are there families who have been involved in the local government for years? Are there past races that caused rifts in your local party? Have there been newcomers who ran for office in the past? If so, how were they received by the political and community leaders? Who are the main players, and what are the unwritten rules? And it goes without saying that the unwritten ones are the trickiest. What's going on behind the scene? You won't be able to know everything right away or even after your campaign, but by meeting with key political stakeholders in your community, you'll have a head start that may help you avoid a misstep. These leaders may be those holding offices now or people who once did but are now retired and active in mentoring. So no matter what office you're seeking, take the time to meet with political leaders (both official and unofficial) before campaign season. The tips that follow give you specific ways to learn and understand the political background and makeup of your community.

Take calculated risks. This is quite different from being rash.

—US Army General George S. Patton

The political landscape can affect your campaign in many ways. For example, you can run into pressure from a political party or leaders in your community. Some might encourage you to enter another race or change your timing or alter your focus or support of an issue. Always remember that it's your name on the line and that you've got to stay true to your values and personal mission. I've heard people say that they were looking for someone to run in a particular race either to make the opposing party or candidate spend money or to help the party look competitive. That might be true, but don't fall for it. You should run for office only if, after careful research and consultation with others in your community, you believe you have a reasonably good chance of winning the race. Because you'll be asking people to give their time and money to your campaign, you want to be sure that your campaign has a good chance of success.

1. Attend the meetings of the office for which you are seeking.

This gives you a chance to see firsthand how business is conducted, along with the challenges and opportunities of the office. Check to see if your community's public broadcasting channel or other public access channel films the meetings and rebroadcasts them. You can then check the viewing schedule and record them to view at your convenience. You could also read the minutes of the meeting, which should be part of public record. Many communities provide links to the meeting files on their websites. (If this is not occurring yet in your community, this could be something you suggest during your campaign as a way to make the office more transparent and accountable to the public.)

2. Know the duties, responsibilities, and scope of the office you are seeking.

This sounds simple, but it's often what trips candidates up when answering questions from the media and during a debate. Understanding exactly what the position entails will help you educate voters on what can be done and what falls outside the scope of the office. For example, if you are passionate about the maintenance of community parks, but its budget is controlled by another office, you'll know that this isn't an issue to be addressed by your campaign. To get this information, first check with your county's election office to learn where to obtain the specific listing of the duties and tasks of the position. Many states also have an association of counties that provides information and training for specific county elected offices.

Sample key questions to research:

What is the main objective of that office?

What are the basic duties? The responsibilities and tasks for local elected offices are spelled out in the municipal code for your town or county. Visit your local government's website and also refer to Votesmart.org for this information.

What are the minimum qualifications for the position?

Is this office a full-time or part-time commitment?

What is the salary paid to the officeholder?

What is the budget for that office (or board or department)?

Are there employees that report to this officeholder? If so, what are their positions?

Your list of questions will be much longer, but you can use these to get started.

3. One of your first visits should be to the chair of your local political party if you are running in a partisan election.

Remember the adage that you don't want to surprise your allies. You will need their support, and by calling on them first before making your campaign official, you'll let them know that you recognize and appreciate the importance of their role.

If you are running in a nonpartisan race, visit the chairs of both political parties to ask for support and seek advice even if you tend to identify with a specific party personally. Many voters who identify themselves with a political party are independent minded when it comes to voting for local offices, so keep your options open and reach out to both parties if you are not running under a party affiliation.

4. Volunteer for a local campaign.

You'll see a campaign from the inside out and make contacts for your campaign. It also helps you gain recognition with others in the party. Be sure to take notes! There's no sense in starting from scratch. In my community, it's almost a rite of passage for people to work on at least one campaign if not several before launching their own campaign. They gain knowledge on how to run a campaign, seeing things that they'll adopt and things they'll choose not to do based on the trial and error of others' campaigns. Plus, they are depositing favors in the bank for when they decide to run.

Be selective as far as which candidates you decide to give your time to. Before making your choice, plan to meet with several candidates to get to know their missions and their individual styles so you'll have a better feel as to how they'll run their campaign. You want to work for someone whose values align with your own and who is well organized. The person should be confident enough in themselves and in you to give you a chance to work in different areas within the campaign so you can have a well-rounded experience. Then, be sure to spell out up front the time you have available.

I let the candidate I chose to volunteer for know up front that one reason I was volunteering my time was to learn all I could for my own future campaign. I was fortunate that the person I...