1. Election Organizing
Understanding Politics and your role in achieving improvements in public education through political activity.
John and Bob
Thank you for helping us with this training
As you go through these slides there will be notes to help guide the discussion
If there are any changes, corrections, etc. that need to be made to this presentation please let us know after the LCT training.
Thanks again.

2. Politics
What?
Who?
Why?
How?

3. What is Politics? What do you think when you see or hear….? Politics –
State Politics –
Local Politics –
Introduce this topic by writing the word “politics” on a piece of clean newsprint (or if the group is small enough, just get verbal responses from group). Ask the participants to indicate what they think of when they see or hear the word “politics.” Write their responses on the newsprint (again, if the group is small enough just get verbal responses)
Repeat the same process for the words “state politics” and “local politics.”
Check back over the responses on the newsprint and see what is Positive, what is Negative

4. What is Politics? Positive? Negative?
Politics is often considered to be an incomprehensible process-one that is almost mystical in nature.

5. Why Get Involved? Why should you be politically active? Salary
Tuition Tax Credits
Transfer/ Promotions
Class Size
Duty Free Lunch
Retirement Benefits
Employee Rights
Certification
Health Insurance
Fringe Benefits
Mandatory Classes
Worker’s Compensation
Length of School Year
Social Security Participation
Curriculum
Testing
Ask participants “What issues are decided on a political level?” Write their responses on newsprint or just write them on paper for the next slide and next question….

6. Who Decides? Look at your list of reasons to get involved.
Who is responsible for making the decisions concerning each of those?
So, why get involved?
What does “Politics” really mean?
From previous newsprint (Why Get Involved Activity) identify who are the decision makers for each item.
More than one answer is correct for each decision. On several items guide the participants through the long list of decision-makers at all levels-local, state and national-identifying individuals by name or office.
Some of the issues may also be decided by Boards such as State Board of Education, Professional Standards Commission, Teachers Retirement System, Department of Community Health and each of these Boards are appointed by the Governor

7. Politics- (pol·i·tics)
The art of influencing or the attempt to influence people.

8. How Can You Influence Political Decisions?
Individually
Become aware of candidates and issues
Campaign volunteer
Give money to candidates
Write letters to legislators
Attend committee or community meetings
Work in party politics as an individual
Run for school board, county commissioner, legislature
Vote!

9. How Can You Influence Political Decisions?
Organizationally
Find candidates to run for office
Endorse candidates
Work in campaigns
Work as a part of the organization in party politics
Exercise organizational clout in lobbying at the capitol
Organize lobbying efforts at the local level- such as a letter writing campaign, or phone calls
Take credit for victories
The next slide will begin the discussion of political activity in campaigns

10. Now, the election process…..

11. Election Organizing Recruitment of Candidates Endorsement Local PAC’s
After the Election

12. Recruitment

13. Where to Find Candidates:
Educators (retired or active) – leaders in your school; those politically involved
Political Parties – coordinate recruitment with county and state party officials
Supportive members of School Councils
Advertisements from the local association
Community Groups – parent groups, church, civic organizations, etc.

14. Roles in the Recruitment Process
The Role of the Local President, LCT and FPE members in this process:
Understand demographics for voting, turnout, support
Know the community, its leaders and possible supporters for the candidate
Maintain consistency in relationships with candidates
Role of the Local, LCT and President:
Support the candidates you recruit
Know what resources you have to offer
Don’t make promises you can’t keep!

15. “Electability” and Allegiance to Association Ideals
Viable Candidate – name recognition, has time to be a candidate and run a campaign
Campaign Organization – has a structure for running a campaign that may be long and expensive
Campaign Skills – ability to speak to crowds, and individuals; understands the issues
Campaign Platform –
Supports public education
Supports public education employees
Willingness to introduce legislation, and be an advocate

16. Endorsement Process

17. Endorsement Process Letters or Invitations sent to ALL Candidates
Do a follow-up of non-responders (once)
Selection of Volunteers for Interview Team(s)
Local Questionnaire for Local Issues (optional)
Appoint Chair of Interview team (may or may not be your FPE chair)
Ask for help from other locals, your UD or GR division if necessary
Be flexible in setting up interview appointments; candidates have very little time available during campaign season
Pick a neutral site for interviews

18. Endorsement Process (continued)
Interview Team should demonstrate diversity (race, gender, political persuasions, ESP’s and certified with various levels represented) – EVERYONE WEAR A NAMETAG
Have light refreshments available
Attempt to be fair to all candidates
Move the process expeditiously as possible and stick to the time lines
Team and local leaders should discuss reality of candidate Electability and long-term effects of endorsements before making recommendation.

19. Endorsement Process (cont’d)
Submit recommendations to GAE for state legislative offices
Candidates not selected should be notified by the local in writing
For local candidates, (i.e. school board, etc.) the local FPE should notify the candidates of their endorsement and set up PR opportunities for presentation of checks, etc.

20. Endorsement Process (cont’d)
IF A CANDIDATE IS ENDORSED, YOUR JOB HAS JUST BEGUN
Volunteer
Notify your members of the endorsement
WORK FOR THE CANDIDATE

21. Local Fund for Public Education Committees

22. Establishing A Local FPE
     
The local Fund for Public Education Committee (FPE) Process is very important to endorsement and campaign success and requires a commitment of the local association leaders and members to ensure its success
President of local appoints FPE Committee
Committee elects the FPE Chair
Committee and Chair elect the FPE treasurer (cannot be the local treasurer)

23. Develop Local PAC Guidelines
Use generic GAE plug-in- document available from GR division
Seek approval by your local association at local meeting
Determine method for collection of FPE funds
Examples: Reverse dues check off
Payroll Deduction
Fundraisers
Submit registration with the State Ethics Commission – if you fail to do this, the FPE will not be allowed to make contributions to candidates (if the FPE is not registered and it makes a contribution the local can be fined by the state)

24. After the Election
Call those who were endorsed and remind them of the role your local, and GAE played in helping get them elected.
Stay in contact with endorsed winners to let them know you are informed, you know the issues, you will be watching, you will be involved and they must continue to support public education.

25. The Aftermath Dealing with unendorsed winners
Set the meeting in a non-threatening environment
Use meeting to establish a relationship
Explain how the association can assist them as legislators
Introduce them to key association leaders and staff
Consider giving a late campaign contribution to help retire the candidate’s debt
Establish communications with legislators and their LCT
It is advisable to appoint LCT members who can be compatible with their legislators.

26. What to Do When They Won’t Respond
Try to find a mutual acquaintance, preferably another legislator
Try to determine if there is a member who has a relationship with the legislator
Call the county political party officials
Send members to the office of the legislator
Enlist the help of GAE staff who may have relationships with the legislator
The use of subtle pressure is sometimes necessary
If none of this works, find someone to run against the legislator in the next election!!

27. Tracking and Involvement Between Elections
Where can information be found?
gaENews (send a blank to
– to find bills and legislative calendars
CapWiz (through and GR division site)
Attend Local Board Meetings
Take legislators out for a meal
Network, join community organizations
Invite legislators to local meetings
Invite legislators to your school
Attend GAE’s Lobby Day at Capitol
Volunteer to lobby with GAE lobbyists and members

28. Understanding politics and the ways in which you can be involved is half the battle.
Now that you are armed with this information you can work with your local association, GAE staff and elected officials to ensure we help elect friends of public education to all levels of government.