Get Involved in Local Politics

Tired of having to vote for the lesser of two evils? Want to make a difference? Thinking of running for office? Here is a good place to start. Below are some descriptions and reviews of various books and product that will help you on the road to elected office.



The Campaign Manager:  Running and Winning Local Elections

“With the experience of serving as a mayor and a chief of staff in the Oregon Legislature, Shaw … presents a solid, comprehensive approach to managing local campaign—from observing the “ten commandments of campaigning” to avoiding the “cardinal sins” of electioneering. Written in as easily comprehensive and systematic approach, Shaw’s book gives the reader the vital tools and components to not just strategize but also implement a modern local campaign.” –Choice

“The fourth edition of The Campaign Manager still has the useful designs and tools you’ll use every day and enough conceptual guidelines and background to help you invent your own systems when something unpredictable happens. But the elaboration of author Cathy Shaw’s methods for Precinct Analysis, new to this edition, are the crown jewel. Her rigorous model will help you or your staff deliver more actionable and sophisticated planning than most of the hundred-million dollar Presidential campaigns of the last three decades . . . and for a lot less money. No matter how new you are to the game, Shaw will make you smarter. And no matter how experienced you are at it, there are original insights and tools that will build up your effectiveness.” —Jeff Angus, Management consultant and author of Management by Baseball; former Washington state elections committee chair for the Citizens Party

Campaign Craft: The Strategies, Tactics and Art of Political Campaign Management

"Aptly named, because campaigning is a craft as well as a science and an art, this updated undergraduate text describes the history and logic of campaigns up to the highly technological and consultant-centered present. Shea and Burton maintain that this new style of campaigning now affects local elections as well as those at the national level, describing the typical campaign plan, the methods for understanding contexts of the race through demographic research and profiles of candidates and opponents. They examine the strategic thinking behind electoral targeting and polling, and cover voter contact techniques such as fundraising, strategic communications, news coverage, and returning to the grass roots. They close with commentary on the future of political campaign organization."

The Political Campaign Desk Reference

I use The Political Campaign Desk Reference as the basic text in my courses on political campaigning. It's a practical guide that helps my students understand how a winning political campaign is put together. I'm sure many of them will continue to use it after they graduate and start running campaigns of their own

- Terry Grundy, University of Cincinnati

"Urban Lobbying" courses in the School of Planning

"With instruction on how to form the backbone of a strong campaign and how to plan to win, this is the book you don't want your opponent to have. The chapter on fundraising alone will make this book an excellent investment for any candidate or organization"

- Michael P. McNamara, Author

 How to Win Any Election

A complete guide to winning elections - 5 ebooks and sample documents, including a 178 page elections guide that shows Everything you need to know to win your next election!

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