Queens County Candidate School
On Saturday, May 12, The Queens Republican County Committee organized a Candidate School Conference for prospective Republican candidates planning to run for office in 2008 and beyond. Led by the new county chairman Phil Ragusa, a panel of experienced and devoted Republicans discussed key questions and procedures one must take in order to win a race.
Queens Senator Serph Maltese spoke to the room over more than sixty attendees on his experience of campaigning and losing and then winning. He stressed the importance of your decesion to run and what you'll need to know about yourself, before you commit to such an undertaking. You must self evaluate why you want to run, understand the office you're seeking, know your opponent and work with the leadership who can advise and assist you in local matters that will be important to voters.
The conference went through a step-by-step discussion on how you get started, who your contacts should be, the important roles others need to play in helping you. Learning to speak in public, focusing on key issues and things you should never do as a candidate were presented by Bob Bishop and how to finance your campaign was strategically planned by Ed Laurie.
Time is important and framing your campaign over the long term is key to building up name recognition and a support staff. You cannot expect to win if you announce your candidacy six months before an election. Public Relations with the media can be tricky and long time political consultant, Robert Hornak spoke on the dos and don'ts with a campaign and handling the press.
J.C. Polanco, Regional Director for Assembly Leader James Tedisco, was on the panel to present the important positions on issues Republicans take up in Albany. He spoke of balancing your principles with local issues and statewide issues and finding a mix that will bring support to your campaign.
Though this was a well thought out and detailed candidate school that covered many steps in making someone a better candidate, the Queens Republican County Committe have every intention on continuing such a course on a regular basis. And now, with the upstart of the Queens Young Republican Committe, the borough will provide a place for the next generation of young professionals interested in public service.
If you live in Queens and have an interest in public service and thought about running for the State Senate or State Assembly, you should contact the director of the Queens Candidate School, Robert Hornak at Robert@Urban-Republican.com. To find out more about the Queens Young Republican Club, mail QueensGOP@yahoo.com.
Posted by URC at May 19, 2007 02:23 PM
