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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
A no-frills, no-fluff manual that takes you entirely through the campaign process explaining everything you need to know to run an effective campaign for any public political office.
- GenresPolitics
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 1999
15 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Robert J. Thomas
193 books61 followersLibrarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
In 1990 Robert J. Thomas was sworn in as the full time mayor for the city of Westland, Michigan. He served twelve years, making him the longest serving mayor in Westland's history.
While he was mayor he wrote his first book titled, How to Run for Local Office, which has now sold over 25,000 copies worldwide.
He has written and published on Kindle, the Jess Williams Westerns series. Retired, he now lives in Mississippi with his wfe Jill.
In 1990 Robert J. Thomas was sworn in as the full time mayor for the city of Westland, Michigan. He served twelve years, making him the longest serving mayor in Westland's history.
While he was mayor he wrote his first book titled, How to Run for Local Office, which has now sold over 25,000 copies worldwide.
He has written and published on Kindle, the Jess Williams Westerns series. Retired, he now lives in Mississippi with his wfe Jill.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 4, 2009
Useful guide for persons running for local office in mid-sized municipalities (e.g. boroughs, small cities, etc), including a handful of interesting and original strategy tips. Seems like good advice, though in places it may be a bit dated. What is particularly helpful, I think, is how he proceeds with a rational, focused strategy which will help people who run for local office from getting caught up in easy campaign pitfalls.
Quibbles:
The book almost assumes that you are going to run in a major party (e.g. Democrat or Republican). Some of the stategy will be a bit different for candidates who don't have a Primary election and can't count on significant party support after winning a Primary.
The author, Robert Thomas, won his first mayoral election in the mid-eighties and has been re-elected multiple times, so his strategy is proven, but contemporary computer technology can substantially improve on what he did, and make some portions of it almost obsolete. He hasn't adjusted his strategy to take advantage of those changes.
He wrote the book in part because there was a lack of how to run for office material when he ran for office, but there are at least a few other useful guides available today for those wishing to run for office.
Some of his strategy ideas are standard practices that people who are seriously considering running most likely already understand as desirable campaign practices.
Quibbles:
The book almost assumes that you are going to run in a major party (e.g. Democrat or Republican). Some of the stategy will be a bit different for candidates who don't have a Primary election and can't count on significant party support after winning a Primary.
The author, Robert Thomas, won his first mayoral election in the mid-eighties and has been re-elected multiple times, so his strategy is proven, but contemporary computer technology can substantially improve on what he did, and make some portions of it almost obsolete. He hasn't adjusted his strategy to take advantage of those changes.
He wrote the book in part because there was a lack of how to run for office material when he ran for office, but there are at least a few other useful guides available today for those wishing to run for office.
Some of his strategy ideas are standard practices that people who are seriously considering running most likely already understand as desirable campaign practices.
February 19, 2020
A Helpful Guide
For someone who had little experience with local politics this book was super helpful. The author really breaks down all the steps to a successful compaign. However, it's a lot outdated and the author seems to be a bit too boastful.
For someone who had little experience with local politics this book was super helpful. The author really breaks down all the steps to a successful compaign. However, it's a lot outdated and the author seems to be a bit too boastful.
August 7, 2017
Some useful information, but a bit outdated.
January 2, 2017
Good reference if you are considering running for local office.
August 4, 2016
The rating I gave this book is not wholly for the information that it provides. As other reviews have noted, the core of the book's advice is incredibly solid, but there are some strategies that Thomas outlines that are simply not useful in today's world due to the advances in technology. However, the bones of a great local campaign are beautifully outlined. Thomas's writing is excellent and easy to follow. I've read a few books on the topic, and this one, while perhaps not the best when it comes to finite advice, is very well written.
February 5, 2008
A good primer for the novice. Book repeats a bit. Book repeats a bit.
August 20, 2011
This thin book is written in a clear and easy style and contains lots of easily digestible information about running a local office campaign. Very helpful.
June 15, 2012
I don't know if I'll ever use the information provided in this book, however the book provided some very useful strategies and tactics in campaigning for political office.
July 25, 2017
I did pretty much everything this author suggested and it worked. Robert Thomas knows how to win a local election.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews