DIVING IN THE DEEP END:DIVING IN THE DEEP END:Experiences Running ForExperiences Running For

And Serving In Elected OfficeAnd Serving In Elected Office

Michael A. PhillipsMichael A. PhillipsProfessor of GeologyProfessor of Geology

Illinois Valley Community CollegeIllinois Valley Community Collegemike_phillips@ivcc.edumike_phillips@ivcc.edu

This presentation may be accessed at:This presentation may be accessed at:http://http://www.ivcc.edu/phillipswww.ivcc.edu/phillips

You did what?You did what?

School BoardSchool Board member: 2003 - presentmember: 2003 - present President: 2005 - presentPresident: 2005 - present

Candidate for State RepresentativeCandidate for State Representative 2005-20062005-2006

Precinct CommitteemanPrecinct Committeeman 2007-present2007-present

Why run for school board?Why run for school board?

Open seat mentioned in articleOpen seat mentioned in article

My children would be starting school My children would be starting school soonsoon

Wanted inside viewWanted inside view I am a college educatorI am a college educator Wanted to participate in meaningful wayWanted to participate in meaningful way

What did you do?What did you do?

20032003 Filed as a write-inFiled as a write-in Contacted the current Board presidentContacted the current Board president Spread the word (word of mouth)Spread the word (word of mouth) No organized campaignNo organized campaign

Elected!Elected!

How did you get to beHow did you get to beBoard President?Board President?

Incumbent Board President lost Incumbent Board President lost reelection in 2005reelection in 2005

Talked to other members about Talked to other members about becoming Presidentbecoming President

Elected by Board in 2005 and 2007Elected by Board in 2005 and 2007

What do you do on the School What do you do on the School Board?Board?

BUDGETBUDGET meet (once a month & special meetings)meet (once a month & special meetings) hire & evaluate superintendenthire & evaluate superintendent set school policyset school policy approve hiring and retention of faculty & staffapprove hiring and retention of faculty & staff negotiate contractsnegotiate contracts work with community, faculty, staff, & administration work with community, faculty, staff, & administration

to address concernsto address concerns keep track of state rules & regulationskeep track of state rules & regulations talk to Superintendent often (3-6 times/week)talk to Superintendent often (3-6 times/week)

BE THEREBE THERE

Why run for State Rep.?Why run for State Rep.?

I wanted to be more involved!I wanted to be more involved! Current Rep was inactive (& a Republican)Current Rep was inactive (& a Republican) I was not happy with current direction of I was not happy with current direction of

State Gov’t with respect to education, State Gov’t with respect to education, pensions, & environmental policypensions, & environmental policy

I felt I had something to offer as a scientist & I felt I had something to offer as a scientist & educatoreducator

I wanted to carry my own waterI wanted to carry my own water

Running for State Rep.Running for State Rep.

Seek adviceSeek advice old friendsold friends new friendsnew friends

• party supportparty support• natural constituenciesnatural constituencies

readread• Politics the Wellstone Way,Politics the Wellstone Way, Wellstone Action!Wellstone Action!• Don’t Think of an Elephant,Don’t Think of an Elephant, George LakoffGeorge Lakoff• Every article I could get my hands onEvery article I could get my hands on

Running for State Rep.Running for State Rep.

Create an OrganizationCreate an Organization Checking AccountChecking Account TreasurerTreasurer Staff (for me: all volunteer)Staff (for me: all volunteer) AdvisorsAdvisors Web siteWeb site

campaign chair, press secretary, campaign chair, press secretary, scheduler (all me)scheduler (all me)

Running for State Rep.Running for State Rep.

Develop a planDevelop a plan analyze voting patternsanalyze voting patterns identify constituenciesidentify constituencies identify interests of the districtidentify interests of the district plan fundraising effortplan fundraising effort plan voter outreach effortplan voter outreach effort identify media outletsidentify media outlets craft a messagecraft a message

Running for State Rep.Running for State Rep.

Seek help & $$$Seek help & $$$ family, friends, & colleaguesfamily, friends, & colleagues party organizationsparty organizations natural constituenciesnatural constituencies

meet, write, callmeet, write, call THANK everyone frequentlyTHANK everyone frequently

Running for State Rep.Running for State Rep.

Step 4:Step 4: Develop positions Develop positions

research the districtresearch the district discuss with friends & advisorsdiscuss with friends & advisors fill out questionnairesfill out questionnaires be sensitive to framingbe sensitive to framing be true to yourselfbe true to yourself

one-issue candidates don’t often winone-issue candidates don’t often win

Running for State Rep.Running for State Rep. To do list:To do list:

press conference & regular press releasespress conference & regular press releases petitions (collect 1000 signatures)petitions (collect 1000 signatures) meet withmeet with

• Party Central CommitteesParty Central Committees• Labor OrganizationsLabor Organizations• any other groupany other group

community event circuitcommunity event circuit• breakfasts, lunches, & dinnersbreakfasts, lunches, & dinners• paradesparades

knock on doorsknock on doors develop handouts, buttons, signs, bumper stickers, lapel develop handouts, buttons, signs, bumper stickers, lapel

stickers, advertisements, robo-callsstickers, advertisements, robo-calls raise money (& keep track of it)raise money (& keep track of it)

Running for State Rep.Running for State Rep. ResultsResults

personally knocked on ~ 6000 doorspersonally knocked on ~ 6000 doors 20,000 postcards sent20,000 postcards sent 20-30,000 fliers delivered last week20-30,000 fliers delivered last week ~ 20 parades~ 20 parades ~ 700 yard signs placed~ 700 yard signs placed 15 large signs placed15 large signs placed 60-80,000 robo calls made60-80,000 robo calls made $25,000 raised & spent$25,000 raised & spent

31% of the vote 31% of the vote

Running for OfficeRunning for Office

ResultsResults Respect:Respect: community & political leaders community & political leaders Political contacts: Political contacts: led to more effective led to more effective

participation in legislative processparticipation in legislative process

2007: Reelected to School Board2007: Reelected to School Board Completed petitions & placed on ballotCompleted petitions & placed on ballot No opposition (but ready to campaign)No opposition (but ready to campaign)

Running For OfficeRunning For OfficeRules To Live ByRules To Live By

Heed good adviceHeed good advice Never spend money you do not haveNever spend money you do not have Put your name on both sides of everythingPut your name on both sides of everything Ask for helpAsk for help Always send a Thank YouAlways send a Thank You Dress like a “decider”Dress like a “decider” Never stopNever stop Introduce yourself to everyoneIntroduce yourself to everyone Pay attention to detailsPay attention to details Be yourselfBe yourself

Can you do it?Can you do it?

11stst Step: Step: Work on a campaign or assist an elected Work on a campaign or assist an elected official.official.

Be bold:Be bold: ask for help & money & votes ask for help & money & votes

Use your skills:Use your skills: public speakingpublic speaking critical analysiscritical analysis personnel managementpersonnel management field organizationfield organization project budgetingproject budgeting

Develop new skills:Develop new skills: graphic design graphic design speech & press-release writingspeech & press-release writing campaign financecampaign finance

Recommended readingRecommended reading

Politics the Wellstone WayPolitics the Wellstone Way, Wellstone , Wellstone Action, University of Minnesota Press, Action, University of Minnesota Press, 20052005

Don’t Think of an ElephantDon’t Think of an Elephant, George , George Lakoff, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2004Lakoff, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2004

What’s next for me?What’s next for me?

Precinct CommitteemanPrecinct Committeeman rebuild campaign fundrebuild campaign fund maintain relationships & build moremaintain relationships & build more work on 2008 campaignswork on 2008 campaigns participate in meetings & “events”participate in meetings & “events”

Advocate for issuesAdvocate for issues

Run again?Run again? maybe: 2010? 2012? maybe: 2010? 2012?

Thank youThank youMike PhillipsMike Phillips

Illinois Valley Community CollegeIllinois Valley Community Collegemike_phillips@ivcc.edumike_phillips@ivcc.edu

http://www.ivcc.edu/phillipshttp://www.ivcc.edu/phillips