Potential Candidates Take Note

I had a fun debate with a friend tonight over so-called “fringe” candidates. You know the ones that are neither an incumbent or have the financial backing relative to that of the incumbent. Doesn’t matter if we are talking about the US Senate, Alderman, School Board or dog catcher. These “other” candidates might all be from the same party, the non-dominant party or a “third” party with little actual success rate. The question becomes what responsibility does the media have to acknowledge the presence of these other candidates that many times have little to know chance of actually winning.

As I have demonstrated in prior posts, I think we owe it to our democracy to at least mention their names. Should other media outlets do the same? Should the media determine the others are not serious candidates and simply filter them out of the race. My friend argued, quite convincingly, these candidates filter themselves out of the race by not running effective campaigns. And I guess that is what really irks me — I want more choice in races but how far do I have to stretch to get that choice?

The Progressives (aka Green Party), and Libertarians, my friend points out, don’t run candidates for Aldermen. They always go for city-wide or bigger races. Why is that? Not that they can’t or shouldn’t run for a city-wide office but why not learn the ropes a bit on a smaller scale such as an aldermanic seat. Or, if you are going to run for a city-wide post then at least make some pretense of running a campaign.

My friend Pat Herod is running for License Collector against presumed winner Mike McMillan. But, Pat has assembled a campaign team which is sending out press releases, put together a web site, attended neighborhood meetings, and has signs and shirts for volunteers. In short, he is running a “real” campaign. Is it too little and too late? Maybe, but, I have great respect and admiration for Pat putting himself out there and giving it all he has.

The same cannot be said for the woman running as a Progressive against Gregg Daly for Collector of Revenue. I met her briefly at a recent event and although she is sweet she is not really campaigning at all — she didn’t even have a flyer. I asked why she didn’t have flyers or a website and her answer was, I kid you not, “they are too expensive.” In this day and age one can easily get a free email account and a free website (such as a blogger account) so to lack either is really sad.

Despite being a professor at Washington University, Jeff Smith was a fringe candidate when he first ran for US Congress in 2004. His hard work propelled him to nearly the top of that race, quickly dropping the fringe in favor of terms such as energetic and rising star. In August that same work ethic paid off as he won the race for 4th Senate district in Missouri (no general opponent). So what does this mean for you potential candidates and alternate parties out there?

Start small and start sooner rather than later. Field some candidates for aldermen and after you’ve elected or nearly elected a candidate for this seat look to the bigger races. Run a couple for aldermen in 2007 and when the race for mayor comes around again in 2009 perhaps one of those candidates will be ready for running in that race. Jeff Smith is the exception rather than the rule — running in a big race only to win the smaller race later usually doesn’t apply.

While I may happily list your name with the same credence as everyone else in the race, most media outlets are not going to have my sense of leveling the playing field. This means, as an alternate candidate, you are going to have to work harder to get recognition. You must send out press releases followed up by repeated phone calls. You’ve got to request meetings with the press. And don’t think sending out a release announcing a press conference is going to get anyone showing up. If you’ve got a blue dress with a stain on it maybe, otherwise good luck. Jake Wagman, Dave Drebes and Antonio French are not going to beat down your door simply because you filed for office. You will have to contact them to get any attention. Sending something my way wouldn’t hurt. Raising money to pay a consultant (or just a worker to send out press releases) is worthwhile.

Required reading for anyone thinking of getting into the municipal election next Spring are my posts from last month; Get Involved — Run for Office and How to Run for Local Office. We can do this folks. We can open up local electoral politics. It won’t be easy but nothing worth doing is.