Hamilton County GOP cunducts campaign school
Thought you might find this story from the 3/23/07 Enquirer interesting.
- Scott
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070323/NEWS01/703230424/1056/COL02
School teaches campaiging
BY JESSICA BROWN
They sat quietly in class wearing business attire and name tags. They raised their hands to ask questions about reporting deadlines and yard signs.
They mulled over the contents of an inches-thick white binder with a red, white and blue elephant on the front.
Inside were the secrets that could mean the difference between winning and losing.
This was no ordinary classroom. This was Candidate School.
About 60 people attended the two-day school at the Ramada Inn in Queensgate. It was organized by the Hamilton County Republican Party. The Democrats are holding another Candidate School next month.
Participants included college students, political hopefuls and those planning to work on their campaigns.
They hoped to gain insight into the big job of running a successful campaign.
"Campaigning is definitely a science," said John Eby, who is running for Cincinnati City Council. "It's amazing what you learn there."
Eby is no stranger to politics. The West Side Republican ran for City Council in 2005. He said newcomers are often astounded at what a huge, complicated, time-consuming thing campaigning is.
"There were things we didn't have any idea about," he said of his first run for office. "We didn't know what we didn't know. If you've never (campaigned) before and you're up against someone who knows what they're doing, then you'll get run over."
For example:
No one person can contribute more than $100 in cash to the campaign. This often becomes a problem at fundraising events and can be a problem on campaign finance reports.
Many communities have their own yard-sign rules. Knowing them can save another costly trip back to the printer.
A computer program can map where your campaign signs are to figure out where the holes are.
There is a whole science behind direct mailings that can make a big difference.
Mike Robinson, 30, of Westwood said the lessons will help him as he works on the campaigns of Hamilton County Municipal Judge Julia Stautberg and Cincinnati City Council candidate Pat Fischer.
"Candidate School is a great learning experience to kind of go through it yourself and be in the trenches and see what it's like," said the Clerk of Courts Office worker.
He's learned everything from envelope stuffing (the correct folding and spelling are just as important as the content) to filing deadlines for campaign finance reports.
"Everyone sees the fund-raisers but doesn't see what all goes into it behind the scenes.
"That's what we get to see in campaign school," Fischer said. "The nuts and bolts of how it comes together and why each part is necessary to try to ensure a win in November."
Candidate School used to be an annual staple for the Republican Party, but was discontinued about five years ago. It was reborn last year.
"It is important that candidates for elected office spend their time wisely in a campaign," said Maggie Nafziger, executive director of the Hamilton County GOP.
"A lot of things like campaign finance laws and fundraising aren't something that the average person knows. This takes them through the process from beginning to end."
Candidate School graduates attest to the program's value.
"It was one of the most valuable, interesting ... things," said Hamilton County Recorder Rebecca Prem Groppe, who has been elected to three terms.
It was also a chance to network, students said.
Kristin Harper wanted to get some pointers to help her husband, Andre Harper, win a Cincinnati City Council seat in November. During a break, she chatted with Shirley Rosser, a veteran campaigner who has worked on the political bids of Jesse Jackson and Charlie Winburn, among others. She ran for Cincinnati City Council herself in 1991. The women discussed how much work campaigning is.
"I was like 'Oh my God,' " Harper laughed, recalling her reaction to the amount of material at candidate school.
"Oh, wait till you get to the parades and the festivals," warned Rosser. "All that waving - it's exhausting!"
- Scott
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070323/NEWS01/703230424/1056/COL02
School teaches campaiging
BY JESSICA BROWN
They sat quietly in class wearing business attire and name tags. They raised their hands to ask questions about reporting deadlines and yard signs.
They mulled over the contents of an inches-thick white binder with a red, white and blue elephant on the front.
Inside were the secrets that could mean the difference between winning and losing.
This was no ordinary classroom. This was Candidate School.
About 60 people attended the two-day school at the Ramada Inn in Queensgate. It was organized by the Hamilton County Republican Party. The Democrats are holding another Candidate School next month.
Participants included college students, political hopefuls and those planning to work on their campaigns.
They hoped to gain insight into the big job of running a successful campaign.
"Campaigning is definitely a science," said John Eby, who is running for Cincinnati City Council. "It's amazing what you learn there."
Eby is no stranger to politics. The West Side Republican ran for City Council in 2005. He said newcomers are often astounded at what a huge, complicated, time-consuming thing campaigning is.
"There were things we didn't have any idea about," he said of his first run for office. "We didn't know what we didn't know. If you've never (campaigned) before and you're up against someone who knows what they're doing, then you'll get run over."
For example:
No one person can contribute more than $100 in cash to the campaign. This often becomes a problem at fundraising events and can be a problem on campaign finance reports.
Many communities have their own yard-sign rules. Knowing them can save another costly trip back to the printer.
A computer program can map where your campaign signs are to figure out where the holes are.
There is a whole science behind direct mailings that can make a big difference.
Mike Robinson, 30, of Westwood said the lessons will help him as he works on the campaigns of Hamilton County Municipal Judge Julia Stautberg and Cincinnati City Council candidate Pat Fischer.
"Candidate School is a great learning experience to kind of go through it yourself and be in the trenches and see what it's like," said the Clerk of Courts Office worker.
He's learned everything from envelope stuffing (the correct folding and spelling are just as important as the content) to filing deadlines for campaign finance reports.
"Everyone sees the fund-raisers but doesn't see what all goes into it behind the scenes.
"That's what we get to see in campaign school," Fischer said. "The nuts and bolts of how it comes together and why each part is necessary to try to ensure a win in November."
Candidate School used to be an annual staple for the Republican Party, but was discontinued about five years ago. It was reborn last year.
"It is important that candidates for elected office spend their time wisely in a campaign," said Maggie Nafziger, executive director of the Hamilton County GOP.
"A lot of things like campaign finance laws and fundraising aren't something that the average person knows. This takes them through the process from beginning to end."
Candidate School graduates attest to the program's value.
"It was one of the most valuable, interesting ... things," said Hamilton County Recorder Rebecca Prem Groppe, who has been elected to three terms.
It was also a chance to network, students said.
Kristin Harper wanted to get some pointers to help her husband, Andre Harper, win a Cincinnati City Council seat in November. During a break, she chatted with Shirley Rosser, a veteran campaigner who has worked on the political bids of Jesse Jackson and Charlie Winburn, among others. She ran for Cincinnati City Council herself in 1991. The women discussed how much work campaigning is.
"I was like 'Oh my God,' " Harper laughed, recalling her reaction to the amount of material at candidate school.
"Oh, wait till you get to the parades and the festivals," warned Rosser. "All that waving - it's exhausting!"
posted by Scott @ 8:32 AM
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