1. DIVING IN THE DEEP END: Experiences Running For And Serving In Elected Office Michael A. Phillips Professor of Geology Illinois Valley Community College mike_phillips@ivcc.edu This presentation may be accessed at: http://www.ivcc.edu/phillips

2. You did what?  School Board member: 2003 - present member: 2003 - present President: 2005 - present President: 2005 - present  Candidate for State Representative 2005-2006 2005-2006  Precinct Committeeman 2007-present 2007-present

3. Why run for school board?  Open seat mentioned in article  My children would be starting school soon  Wanted inside view  I am a college educator  Wanted to participate in meaningful way

4. What did you do?  2003 Filed as a write-in Filed as a write-in Contacted the current Board president Contacted the current Board president Spread the word (word of mouth) Spread the word (word of mouth) No organized campaign No organized campaign Elected! Elected!

5. How did you get to be Board President?  Incumbent Board President lost reelection in 2005  Talked to other members about becoming President  Elected by Board in 2005 and 2007

6. What do you do on the School Board?  BUDGET  meet (once a month & special meetings)  hire & evaluate superintendent  set school policy  approve hiring and retention of faculty & staff  negotiate contracts  work with community, faculty, staff, & administration to address concerns  keep track of state rules & regulations  talk to Superintendent often (3-6 times/week)  BE THERE

7. Why run for State Rep.?  I wanted to be more involved!  Current Rep was inactive (& a Republican)  I was not happy with current direction of State Gov’t with respect to education, pensions, & environmental policy  I felt I had something to offer as a scientist & educator  I wanted to carry my own water

8. Running for State Rep.  Seek advice old friends old friends new friends new friends party supportparty support natural constituenciesnatural constituencies read read Politics the Wellstone Way, Wellstone Action!Politics the Wellstone Way, Wellstone Action! Don’t Think of an Elephant, George LakoffDon’t Think of an Elephant, George Lakoff Every article I could get my hands onEvery article I could get my hands on

9. Running for State Rep.  Create an Organization Checking Account Checking Account Treasurer Treasurer Staff (for me: all volunteer) Staff (for me: all volunteer) Advisors Advisors Web site Web site campaign chair, press secretary, scheduler (all me) campaign chair, press secretary, scheduler (all me)

10. Running for State Rep.  Develop a plan analyze voting patterns analyze voting patterns identify constituencies identify constituencies identify interests of the district identify interests of the district plan fundraising effort plan fundraising effort plan voter outreach effort plan voter outreach effort identify media outlets identify media outlets craft a message craft a message

11. Running for State Rep.  Seek help & $$$ family, friends, & colleagues family, friends, & colleagues party organizations party organizations natural constituencies natural constituencies meet, write, call meet, write, call THANK everyone frequently THANK everyone frequently

12. Running for State Rep.  Step 4: Develop positions research the district research the district discuss with friends & advisors discuss with friends & advisors fill out questionnaires fill out questionnaires be sensitive to framing be sensitive to framing be true to yourself be true to yourself one-issue candidates don’t often win one-issue candidates don’t often win

13. Running for State Rep.  To do list: press conference & regular press releases press conference & regular press releases petitions (collect 1000 signatures) petitions (collect 1000 signatures) meet with meet with Party Central CommitteesParty Central Committees Labor OrganizationsLabor Organizations any other groupany other group community event circuit community event circuit breakfasts, lunches, & dinnersbreakfasts, lunches, & dinners paradesparades knock on doors knock on doors develop handouts, buttons, signs, bumper stickers, lapel stickers, advertisements, robo-calls develop handouts, buttons, signs, bumper stickers, lapel stickers, advertisements, robo-calls raise money (& keep track of it) raise money (& keep track of it)

14. Running for State Rep.  Results personally knocked on ~ 6000 doors personally knocked on ~ 6000 doors 20,000 postcards sent 20,000 postcards sent 20-30,000 fliers delivered last week 20-30,000 fliers delivered last week ~ 20 parades ~ 20 parades ~ 700 yard signs placed ~ 700 yard signs placed 15 large signs placed 15 large signs placed 60-80,000 robo calls made 60-80,000 robo calls made $25,000 raised & spent $25,000 raised & spent 31% of the vote  31% of the vote 

15. Running for Office  Results Respect: community & political leaders Respect: community & political leaders Political contacts: led to more effective participation in legislative process Political contacts: led to more effective participation in legislative process  2007: Reelected to School Board Completed petitions & placed on ballot Completed petitions & placed on ballot No opposition (but ready to campaign) No opposition (but ready to campaign)

16. Running For Office Rules To Live By  Heed good advice  Never spend money you do not have  Put your name on both sides of everything  Ask for help  Always send a Thank You  Dress like a “decider”  Never stop  Introduce yourself to everyone  Pay attention to details  Be yourself

17. Can you do it?  1 st Step: Work on a campaign or assist an elected official.  Be bold: ask for help & money & votes  Use your skills: public speaking public speaking critical analysis critical analysis personnel management personnel management field organization field organization project budgeting project budgeting  Develop new skills: graphic design speech & press-release writing campaign finance

18. Recommended reading  Politics the Wellstone Way, Wellstone Action, University of Minnesota Press, 2005  Don’t Think of an Elephant, George Lakoff, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2004

19. What’s next for me?  Precinct Committeeman rebuild campaign fund rebuild campaign fund maintain relationships & build more maintain relationships & build more work on 2008 campaigns work on 2008 campaigns participate in meetings & “events” participate in meetings & “events”  Advocate for issues  Run again? maybe: 2010? 2012?

20. Thank you Mike Phillips Illinois Valley Community College mike_phillips@ivcc.edu http://www.ivcc.edu/phillips