Changing Your Community Through Campaign Participation

One of the basic rights and freedoms of the United States is the right to vote. Through a democratic process, we elect our political leaders at the state, local and national levels. But unlike some countries that force their citizens to show up at the ballot box, our government allows each individual to decide whether or not to vote. With ever-declining voter registration and participation numbers, decisions in our democracy are increasingly in the hands of fewer people. This is especially true in our own local government.

Voting is a right that our country’s founders and veterans fought to protect. Because of the sacrifice of so many in defending this right, voting is also a responsibility. Good and representative government simply cannot be ensured without full participation of eligible voters.

Unfortunately, many of us arrive at the voting booth and are disappointed by the choices. Candidates often appear to be similar or the choices don’t seem palatable. Not surprisingly, many voters express their disappointment by avoiding the voting booth altogether and registering a non-vote. This form of passive resistance may send a signal, but it actually guarantees that small groups of voters control our political processes and elected governmental bodies.

To remedy the problem of the non-vote, here’s a solution – get involved months before the election. In the coming year, our community will see elections for governor, state representative, county commission, mayor, city council and school board among others. The best way to put quality candidates on the ballot is to get involved now.

Now is the time when political parties and activist groups are hand picking candidates that represent their interests. If you or I want to see candidates who represent our interests, we have to get involved in the process of choosing and campaigning for candidates. Here are some thoughts on how to make that happen:

•   Look around at your friends, neighbors and the leaders in your community. Encourage the best and brightest to run for office. The sad truth is that many of the best candidates are never asked to run.


•   Look for campaigns and candidates that you can support.


•   Get your friends and family involved in your campaign of choice.


•   Call or email the candidates. Ask to meet with them. Most will welcome the invitation.

But before you join a campaign, you’ll want to make sure that the candidates’ values match yours. Here are some questions to ask:

•   Ask them for their campaign platform. Where do they stand on important issues? What issues will take priority if elected?


•   What are the issues you find most important, and are those issues represented on the candidate’s platform? If not, now is the time to influence that platform by suggesting that your issues be included.


•   What’s the candidate’s track record on the issues? Has the person’s record of public service and community involvement demonstrated a commitment to these issues or are the issues just now politically convenient?


•   What are the specific plans the candidate has in relation to the issues? It’s nice to be "for" something like "improving education" but figuring out how to do it is not as easy.


•   Ask for a list of campaign contributors and supporters. Many times, finding out who is backing a candidate is more important than a stated platform. You should know about the values and aspirations of the candidate’s supporters to see if they match yours.

Now is the time to pick up the phone and get involved in a campaign and in the political process. It’s time for all of us to spread the word that our democratic responsibility is about more than just voting. It’s about choosing and supporting candidates who we would be proud to have in public office.

This piece was written by Bill Carlson and published as an op-ed piece in the Tampa Tribune on April 27, 2002. Bill Carlson is President of Tucker/Hall, Inc., one of Florida's leading public affairs firms and is based in Tampa.

For more information, please contact Bill Carlson at bcarlson@tuckerhall.com