if you were to run for a local office in a purple area, how much

[mopinko]

would you link up w national politics?
my sister is running for a county board. nothing about the purview of the job matches up w what cheato is doing to the country.
it is leaning more and more blue, after decades of being solid red. i have no doubt that the resistance is alive and well there.

but i hate, hate, hate when candidates stand on issues that have nothing to do w their office.
her dem challenger is having a conversation on her fb page about the aca. this is my sister's biggest issue. it is life and death in her family. but the job has nothing to do w healthcare or the aca.

she needs to walk a fine line, and i am not sure where she should be standing.
(i am her defacto campaign manager till she can raise some money to hire one.)

what would you do? what would your slogan be?
i think something like- resist at every level- would make her happy. but i dont know if this doesnt alienate more supporter than it attracts.

help us out here, du.

[CrispyQ]

1. I would make the point that ACA legislation is outside the scope of this position.

But I would find local success stories about the ACA & post them. Also quotes from health professionals, the positive things they've seen from the ACA. I would also post, "Here are the issues that this position will deal with & my views on them."

I hope you use proper capitalization in your correspondence as her campaign manager.

[mopinko]

4. i went to good catholic schools, and learned all the rules.

i'm even a pretty good speller and a decent proof reader.
i do design work for a lot of people, and i speak in their voices.

her own aca story is pretty compelling, so i think we will talk about that.
her husband had hep c. he ended up needing a liver transplant. he was tied to a job by his need for healthcare for decades. she ran her own business and w his pre-existing there was no way she could afford healthcare on the individual market.
thankfully his employer went over and above to accommodate him during his long illness, but they really wanted to build a business of their own.

enter the aca. they started a business rehabbing houses. now they are terrified of losing their insurance. she took a retail job so that he would stay covered. time away from their business.
al gore told us years ago that single payer would unleash a wave of entrepreneurship. they are living proof. but now they fear it will go poof.

but the joke is on cheato, as the job she is running for includes healthcare, and is less than full time.

[emulatorloo]

2. If I were to run for local office I'd campaign on local issues. If someone tried to "nationalize"

things I'd be very assertive that this is about our community and the job I would do on the county board. Not going to distracted from local issues.

To me her opponent is making a big mistake focusing on the ACA. As you say it has nothing with the job.

[msongs]

3. you don't say what the county board regulates so it is tough to say but in general

seems to me one should stay close to the area of expertise needed for that position. perhaps tie in some related larger issues

[Generic Brad]

5. Follow the advice of the late Tip O'Neill

"All politics is local". Represent the interests of the constituency she will serve and limit her platform to that. "Do the right thing".

[struggle4progress]

7. +

[mopinko]

6. can i get a little knr?

i love the du brain trust. i am counting on you guys to discuss issues like this w me.

[mopinko]

8. cmon peeps. help me out here.

trying to make sure we win. i need you guys.
please.

[Steven Maurer]

9. Knock Doors

And you win. Period.

Whether you win or lose a local race has very little to do with your positions. It has everything to do with introducing yourself.

Tell her to go knock doors.

Go to the state party. Get VAN access. Cut turf. Have her go to every Democrat and Independent's house. Wear out a pair of walking shoes.

She should have a little script. Maybe something like this.

<Ding><Dong> "Hi, my name is <mopinko's sister>. I'm running for <local office>, which is an election coming up. Because I want to be your representative on <county commission/state house/local city board>, I thought it would be rather unique if I asked people about what they want to see in the local metro area.

If you had one thing that you really want addressed around here, your #1 issue, what would it be?"

Smile. Have a pleasant chat.


By the way, you can canvass for her, just say you're canvassing on her behalf. List everything she's looking to do. Print up fliers for when people aren't home.

I've helped put three people in our local Legislature doing this through the summer. It works.

[ProudLib72]

10. Agreed

Name recognition is huge.

There are some signs on the corner of my block for a candidate whom I've never heard of. I tried finding her online to no avail. So far, I have seen signs for her only on that single corner. While social media is the way of the future, not everyone (not even a lot of people) who use FB and Twitter follow candidates. So getting out there, going to door to door is important. Signage is important.

[mopinko]

13. oh i know this.

she has good name rec in her town, but not the whole district.
county dems have been knocking doors all summer for the party.

just working on a walk piece for her.

[CK_John]

11. IMO, you should be the candidate you seem to give her no options.

[mopinko]

12. she always was the likable one.

she has plenty to say. i dont give orders, just ideas.