How to Run for Local Office : A Complete, Step-By-Step Guide that Will Take You Through the Entire Process of Running and Winning a Local Election (Paperback)

by Robert J. Thomas (Author), Jill Thomas (Editor), Barb Gunia (Illustrator) "Okay, you have bought the book..." (more)
Key Phrases: good voters, walking lists, voter households, Microsoft Access (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Here are some of the letters and reviews of "How to Run for Local Office that I have received over the years. Robert J. Thomas/Author I purchased your book from a suggesstion of my Congressman Asa Hutchinson. I ran for Russellville City Council, knowing nothing about even how a city was run. I won, beating my incumbent who had been in for 6 years. I didn't win by a landslide but it was a comfortable margin. Your book gave me the courage to face difficult things and to be able to go door-to-door and campaign in order to win this election. I am ecstatic and I wanted to thank you for this wonderful book. Your book was so helpful. Thanks again! Sonja R. Brent Russellville City Council Woman 01/03/01 --Letters and reviews from readers.

From the Publisher
When we first published this book, we didn't realize that it would have such a wide appeal with candidates. This book is being used by people from all walks of life to run for all types of elective office. We have received hundreds of comments from readers thanking us and informing us of how the book helped them win their elections against all odds. This book has now sold over 14,000 copies worldwide, and is in its fourth printing as we speak. While the majority of the copies have been sold in the United States, we have sold copies in almost every country around the globe including the U.K., Australia, Uganda, Guam, Puerto Rico, Ireland and more. It has been used by many college professors and teachers. The book has been used by colleges and universities including Harvard, Oklahoma State University, Keene State College, Ohio State University, West Point Military Academy, Indiana University and many more. We have been very pleased with the results of How to for Local Office and look forward to helping many more candidates beat the odds!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: R & T Enterprise; 1st edition (April 12, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966830407
• ISBN-13: 978-0966830408
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,291 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #3 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Political Science > Levels of Government > Local Government
  #10 in	Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Political Science > Elections
  #43 in	Books > Nonfiction > Politics > Practical Politics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate "How To Primer" for Winning Local Office, April 2, 2001

By	Wayne A. Smith (Wilmington, DE) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This thin book is excellent at detailing the aspects of successful political campaigns.

It is a very good "how-to" primer. Really an expanded to-do list for organizing and executing a campaign for local office, this book is a fine aid for those new to the process. All the topics are coverd -- from organizing and planning to ordering yard signs, doing brochures and how to get out the vote on Election Day.

As a local candidate myself (six runs for the State House - successful), I can attest to the depth of coverage provided by this book.

It is stripped down, with few words wasted. There is not much background information provided nor framework for the lists of things to do. This will perhaps leave skeptics wanting more information. However, it is a good primer and would be an excellent aid to first time local candidates and campaign managers.

I'm teaching a course in elective politics at the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Center of Government. This is one of the required reading books for the course and is also used by some other teachers in the field at colleges and universities around the country.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I lost EVERY battle but I won the WAR!, December 24, 2003

By	City Councilmember Lori Cox (Broomfield, Colorado) - See all my reviews

My opponent was the favored incumbent. She received the endorsement of the local newspaper AND her name was listed on the ballot before mine. All of these small things added up to sure and sudden defeat, right? Well, not so fast!
I purchased Mayor Thomas' book and followed the recommendations to the letter. Almost every suggestion, if not perfect for my situation, could be modified slightly to fit my situation. I had never run for local office before and had, literally, no idea where to begin. This book contained practical, logical, sound advice. I developed my "inner circle" and we found the "good voters" in just the fashion Mayor Thomas said we would. "How To Run For Local Office" also gave me the confidence to create a detailed plan and stick to it. If you're running for local office, you need to do two things. BUY this book, and hope your opponent doesn't!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Add it to *your* syllabus, January 6, 2002

By	David C. King (Cambridge, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm a professor at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and have used several "how to" campaign books over the last 10 years. Most, like this one, are written by very local candidates and have a wonderfully authentic, genuine feel. I like Mr. Thomas' book best of all, and I'm using it again this year. The advice is practical, easy to follow and up-to-date. It compliments other more "theoretical" readings in a political parties or campaigns class. Students often react by thinking, on first reading, that everything is so "obvious" or "common sense," but when I place students as volunteers in campaigns, they tend to be surprised by how many "obvious" things are missed every day. My semi-well-reasoned guess is that 50 percent of local campaigns make very significant strategic or managerial mistakes that wouldn't be made if Mayor Thomas' guidelines were followed.