10/20/2013

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Local Politics

Professor

10/7/2013

How to Win a State & Local Election

A Book Review

About the Book

Wanting to take a seat in the public office is a dream that is not for everyone. This book

on How to win a local election provides a intense picture on the pressures and stresses that a

hopeful candidate for election needs to give attention to. As if allowing the said individuals to

have a understanding of what is about to come, this book assumes that the readers would want to

gain victory over a local election. It will also provides a proper description on how different a

local election is from a national election to make sure that the candidates know what to and what

not to expect from the competition they are aiming to involve in. The book was released in 2007

by M. Evans and Company publishers this reading material has been found helpful and highly

acceptable among hopeful officials in local offices.

About the Author

Judge Lawrence Grey is a distinguished judge in Ohio for 25 years is considerably known

for his views on the political and social issues that a developed nation such as America is

experiencing. Some of his other works include a distinction on how the American behavior fit

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the society that its people live in. Specifically pointing out on the pros and cons of election, Grey

tries to uncover the specific sources of query when it comes to identifying particular elements

that are considered necessary for winning a local campaign competition among electoral

candidates during an election. In his book How to Win an Election, Grey points out some of the

most vital elements that could help a candidate be successful in the battle.

Main theme of Reading

The reading provides a great source of information on the primary steps needed to be

taken into consideration by an electoral candidate from the very point of deciding to run for

office. Relatively, the author provides a clear distinction on what good and bad campaign

practice is all about. Citing the ethical measures that campaign managers should know of and the

common pitfall that such individuals often incur thus causing them their victory

To note, the book tackles particular points of importance when it comes to establishing a

candidate’s platform for campaign. For instance establishing a strong and stable agenda based

from the most controversial issues that the society is dealing with is considered to be a good

source of campaigning capability. Knowing how to work on a controversial issue through

appealing to the public’s concerns is one way of taking the stand for the situation and making it

work for the campaign. Another point considered in the reading is the way the campaign is

funded. Over spending on campaign materials is noted by Judge Grey as something that most

political electoral candidates mismanage. The overuse of financial resources could apparently be

avoided if the candidate himself knows where to reach the people and how to reach them

effectively.

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In an overall context, the author presents his discussion as if pointing out the business

side of politics. Specifically giving attention to how to mandate the thinking of the people

influencing their opinions and reactions to social controversies note the fact that the idea of Grey

regarding politics is more of selling the candidate to the people which is an obvious process that

most politicians use today. Although it is a sad truth to accept, anyone wanting to win a local

election must be willing to sell himself to the public. Some, although unethical even formulate

the idea of going overboard in creating a new self for them to sell. They manipulate the

information released about their personal lives simply to get the attention and to make the people

agree to their platform and the agenda they present the public with.

Evaluation of the Book’s Content

Considerably, the book is more of a what-to-do patterned book direction that electoral

candidates are supposed to give attention to. As mentioned earlier, the author tries to present

electoral campaigns in the form of business. A matter that should be funded and marketed to the

public; this is what modern politics is all about. When it comes to winning, a candidate must

accept that he has to spend money to get the attention of the people. While it is an idealist’s

thought that the best platform or agenda would win, the truth about politics is that the most

known individual who has been able to touch social controversies and work around them to

benefit his campaign often wins the competition.

Sadly, the current political nature in the United States, and even outside the country, is

based upon such point of popularity and fame. About 70% of the voters remember the name of

the one who has made much louder noise during the campaign. People no longer give attention

to what a candidate has done in the past especially when it comes to local elections. Instead, they

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give attention to who may have tickled their minds, those who have made an impression through

tackling what the general public is concerned about at the time being.

This is the reason why Grey points out in his reading that a hopeful candidate should

know the social happenings in his area. He needs to research , even conduct a poll when

necessary, just to know what the people would like to hear and what would likely catch their

interest. Most often than not, it is through this approach that electoral candidates would be

known to the public thus allowing them to make a mark on the minds of the voters which

specifically boosts the possibility of being elected in office.

The Book’s Genre and Identity

A step-by-step guide to being elected into office; this is how the author himself identified

his book. Relatively, it is with such assumption of procedures that a candidate running for office

would likely be able to get what he wants from the public their votes. With a specific concern for

the direction that every candidate takes into consideration, Grey allows his readers to seek their

personal understanding of what politics really is all about. Although a sad truth on American

politics becoming more of a business has been exposed through the reading, it could not be

denied that this particular background is indeed the primary foundation to which both local and

national administrations are grounded upon.

Overall Reaction to the Reading

The reading in itself is efficient in providing guidance to novice candidates in the local

office. Providing them with the first hand knowledge on what to expect during the campaign and

how to go around particular conflicting situations, this material provides a great source of

confidence even among first-time candidates. Boosting the candidates’ morale this reading gives

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the reader a glimpse on what real politics is all about, how it could be won and how it should be

viewed by anyone entering within its territories.

Reference:

Grey, L. (2007). How to Win a Local Election. M. Evans and Company.

Edwards, George C., Martin P. Wattenberg, and Robert L. Lineberry. (2010).Government in

America: People, Politics, and Policy. M. Evans and Company.

Hetherington, Marc J., and Bruce A. Larson. (2009). Parties, Politics, and Public Policy in

America 301 pp. M. Evans and Company.