1 election organizing understanding politics and your role in achieving improvements in public...

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Election Organizing

Understanding Politics and your role in achieving improvements in public education through political activity.

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Politics

What? Who?

How?

Why?

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What is Politics?

What do you think when you see or hear….?

Politics –

State Politics –

Local Politics –

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What is Politics?

Positive? Negative?

Politics is often considered to be an incomprehensible process-one that is almost mystical in nature.

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Why Get Involved?

Why should you be politically active?

Salary Tuition Tax Credits Transfer/ PromotionsClass SizeDuty Free LunchRetirement BenefitsEmployee RightsCertification

Health InsuranceFringe BenefitsMandatory ClassesWorker’s CompensationLength of School YearSocial Security ParticipationCurriculumTesting

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Who Decides?

Look at your list of reasons to get involved.

Who is responsible for making the decisions concerning each of those?

So, why get involved?

What does “Politics” really mean?

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Politics- (pol·i·tics)

The art of influencing or the attempt to influence people.

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How Can You Influence Political Decisions?

Individually Become aware of candidates and issues Campaign volunteer Give money to candidates Write letters to legislators Attend committee or community meetings Work in party politics as an individual Run for school board, county commissioner,

legislature Vote!

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How Can You Influence Political Decisions?

Organizationally Find candidates to run for office Endorse candidates Work in campaigns Work as a part of the organization in party

politics Exercise organizational clout in lobbying at

the capitol Organize lobbying efforts at the local level-

such as a letter writing campaign, or phone calls

Take credit for victories

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Now, the election process…..

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Election Organizing

1. Recruitment of Candidates

2. Endorsement

3. Local PAC’s

4. After the Election

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Recruitment

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Where to Find Candidates:

•Educators (retired or active) – leaders in your school; those politically involved

•Political Parties – coordinate recruitment with county and state party officials

•Supportive members of School Councils

•Advertisements from the local association

•Community Groups – parent groups, church, civic organizations, etc.

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Roles in the Recruitment Process

The Role of the Local President, LCT and PAC members in this process:

Understand demographics for voting, turnout, support Know the community, its leaders and possible

supporters for the candidate Maintain consistency in relationships with candidates

Role of the Local, LCT and President: Support the candidates you recruit Know what resources you have to offer

Don’t make promises you can’t keep!

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Viable Candidate – name recognition, has time to be a candidate and run a campaign

Campaign Organization – has a structure for running a campaign that may be long and expensive

Campaign Skills – ability to speak to crowds, and individuals; understands the issues

Campaign Platform – Supports public education Supports public education employees Willingness to introduce legislation, and be an

advocate

“Electability” and Allegiance to Association Ideals

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Endorsement Process

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Endorsement Process

Letters or Invitations sent to ALL Candidates Do a follow-up of non-responders (once) Selection of Volunteers for Interview Team(s) Local Questionnaire for Local Issues (optional) Appoint Chair of Interview team (may or may not be

your FPE chair) Ask for help from other locals, your UD or GR division

if necessary Be flexible in setting up interview appointments;

candidates have very little time available during campaign season

Pick a neutral site for interviews

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Endorsement Process (continued)

Interview Team should demonstrate diversity (race, gender, political persuasions, ESP’s and certified with various levels represented) – EVERYONE WEAR A NAMETAG

Have light refreshments available Attempt to be fair to all candidates Move the process expeditiously as possible

and stick to the time lines Team and local leaders should discuss reality

of candidate Electability and long-term effects of endorsements before making recommendation.

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Endorsement Process (cont’d)

Submit recommendations to GAE for state legislative offices

Candidates not selected should be notified by the local in writing

For local candidates, (i.e. school board, etc.) the local FPE should notify the candidates of their endorsement and set up PR opportunities for presentation of checks, etc.

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Endorsement Process (cont’d)

IF A CANDIDATE IS ENDORSED, YOUR JOB HAS JUST BEGUN Volunteer Notify your members of the

endorsement WORK FOR THE CANDIDATE

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Local Political Action Committees

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Establishing A Local FPE

     The local Fund for Public Education Committee

(FPE) Process is very important to endorsement and campaign success and requires a commitment of the local association leaders and members to ensure its success

President of local appoints FPE Committee Committee elects the FPE Chair Committee and Chair elect the FPE treasurer

(cannot be the local treasurer)

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Develop Local FPE Guidelines

Use generic GAE plug-in- document available from GR division

Seek approval by your local association at local meeting

Determine method for collection of FPE funds

Examples: Reverse dues check off Payroll Deduction Fundraisers

Submit registration with the Georgia Ethics Commission – if you fail to do this, the FPE will not be allowed to make contributions to candidates (if the FPE is not registered and it makes a contribution the local can be fined by the state)

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After the Election

Call those who were endorsed and remind them of the role your local, and GAE played in helping get them elected.

Stay in contact with endorsed winners to let them know you are informed, you know the issues, you will be watching, you will be involved and they must continue to support public education.

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The Aftermath

Dealing with unendorsed winners Set the meeting in a non-threatening environment Use meeting to establish a relationship Explain how the association can assist them as

legislators Introduce them to key association leaders and staff Consider giving a late campaign contribution to help

retire the candidate’s debt Establish communications with legislators and their

LCT It is advisable to appoint LCT members who can be

compatible with their legislators.

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What to Do When They Won’t Respond

Try to find a mutual acquaintance, preferably another legislator

Try to determine if there is a member who has a relationship with the legislator

Call the county political party officials Send members to the office of the legislator Enlist the help of GAE staff who may have

relationships with the legislator The use of subtle pressure is sometimes necessary

If none of this works, find someone to run against the legislator in the next election!!

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Tracking and Involvement Between Elections

Where can information be found? gaENews (send a blank email to gaenews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com)

www.legis.state.ga.us – to find bills and legislative calendars CapWiz (through www.gae.org and GR division site)

Attend Local Board Meetings Take legislators out for a meal Network, join community organizations Invite legislators to local meetings Invite legislators to your school Attend GAE state trainings, etc. Volunteer to lobby with GAE lobbyists and members

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Understanding politics and the ways in which you can be involved is half the battle.

Now that you are armed with this information you can work with your local association, GAE staff and elected officials to ensure we help elect friends of public education to all levels of government.