My campaign advice comes from years of campaign experience. I regret it's not a 30-second sound bite, as many people think life should be. Granted, horse races and elections make adrenaline flow. Do we want to live this way? I take these axioms for granted. I applaud effective use of limited campaign funds and grassroots campaign techniques. Money is the mother's milk of politics. Look how Washington screams for campaign reform! Criticism is leveled because it tips the scales in tight contests to haves over have-nots, fairly but not always consistently. It backfired - look at the 1998 California governor's contest.Early Campaign Advice
Speak at City Council meetings on issues you want to campaign on, establishing a working repertoire and relationship with them. They may as a result be disposed to wait this campaign out or at least not take sides on your campaign issues as these invariably fall on incumbents' shoulders or at least on those supporting the status quo. Always engage!
Campaign Advice on Business Support
Actively solicit businesses for campaign funds. Business support is important. Commerce is the backbone of any community. Engaging business and community leadership one on one for campaign funds isolates opposition to your campaign programs before opponents can rally support and at the same time identify and rally community leaders to your cause. This follows regardless whether you get campaign money or endorsements, secondary to campaign dialogue, as you actively engage unfriendly quarters to argue your side of campaign issues. Never lose sight of campaign objectives no matter how heated the contest becomes. Grass roots endorsement is like campaign money.
Campaign Advice from Personal Experience
In my campaigns I was a dark horse 3rd party protest candidate. If you don't win, as a candidate you still control the debate and define campaign issues everyone in the race runs on, getting your program adopted and getting the winner to follow your agenda. However effective and efficient your campaign, learn from your spring outing. Watching election campaigns I notice winners used direct mail and runners-up used the media. With 10,000 Mammoth Lakes postal patrons a bulk mail permit should enable you to reach them for $2000 or so. In my campaigns I raised almost $10,000 and didn't campaign until I filed for candidacy.
Campaign Office Advice
Campaign manpower means more than money. Don't waste people's time with what you can purchase. Delegate! Never get trapped in campaign micromanagement even if you manage your campaign. Let young supporters stuff envelopes, run errands, type, copy. Busy adults in final campaign weeks present your case in the field, walking precincts. Even unknowns can win by pressing flesh. Often that's all they have going for them. Campaign program, name recognition and reputation bring a vastly different mix to present to voters in this diverse age.
Campaign Advice on Voters
Voters use their hearts as much as their heads. A candidate's personality has as much to do with success at the polls as do programs. Use an integrated campaign presentation in which absolutely all you have to offer, not just the image you choose to present to voters, compliments the campaign. It's critical your character compliment objectives tied to a campaign resume validating and making believable your ability to deliver. Look at Gary Hart's failure and George Wallace's success. Credibility from Viet Nam and John F Kennedy days is an essential success variable. Once established in the community it's good for future public involvement. I see myself not so much running new campaigns as entering the second phase of old campaigns. Running for State Assembly I pulled a lot of protest vote due to established ties and renegade aid mobilizing that vote in the primary for me to target in the general election.
Campaign Advice on Voter Information
Informing voters on campaign issues going into voting booths is too late to expect support in last ditch situations. You want decision, not dialogue. Anything else is too little too late. In any campaign's final moments all you should need to do is remind voters you're alive. I did not win an election since college but I never came in last, and often ran against steep odds. As a result I won political appointments.
Campaign Advice on Scandals
Skeletons exist in all closets. Best damage control shows the closet, letting the public paw through it. I challenge anyone to show I did not do my best - which is all anyone has a right to ask. In these days of materialism and hedonism people crave substance and value. Do all you can to deliver in buckets. Most campaign literature only gets enough attention to be carried from mailbox to wastebasket. Keep your message simple and explicit enough to leave a lasting imprint. This may restate the consensus about 30-second sound bites. With what you have going for you all you should need are 30 seconds if you're to win anyway. Let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.
Campaign Advice on Elective Positions
Not all politics applies to high profile elective office. Accept work in nonprofit agencies, Commissions or Boards. Active participation in elections never damages alternative options should the choice arise. Never fight your way in where you're not wanted. The best defense is good offense, like in chess. Early campaign money is worth 10 times last minute pushes. An early well-developed campaign strategy is superior to 100 or more misdirected tactical rear guard campaigning once you're broadsided. Make the most of opportunities evolving here. Using campaign issues to make news for your candidacy is more effective than paid ads.
Campaign Advice Post-Election
There's life after polls close. Lead by doing, not by saying. Actions speak louder than words. Winston Churchill said during the London Blitzkrieg: "We shall never surrender." Never commit scarce campaign resources unless you're prepared from the outset to give the last full measure of your blood. Never do or say what you don't mean. If you do mean it make it stick. Pick your allies. Choose your battles. Never be out of control or lose command. You're known by company you keep. Know your electorate. Know yourself. Modify "I'm OK - You're OK" to "I'm for real - You're for real". Perhaps I said too much. Then again I may not have said enough. Good luck!
Friend's letter to Tim
Blacklisted, I can't even get jobs I qualify for. I'm dropped / passed over after successful interviews. I got hired and shuffled from inside sales to customer service. Although I wouldn't be a tech I'd be exposed to soldering flux. I tried to get a more protected situation. HR unhired me. I can't even get telemarketing jobs! The BBB, with 6 positions for the same job to fill in Oakland, "seriously considered" hiring me but never called me.