In 1996, Pam Partain’s husband, Jack, ran his only contested race for Superior Court judge. That was before Whitfield County’s Campaign Academy, an afternoon course that teaches novices how to run campaigns.
“We were just flying by the seat of our pants and doing the best we could,” Ms. Partain said.
As election season swings into gear, political hopefuls today have a resource. They can get tips on running for office at campaign academies. Both Catoosa and Whitfield counties have one-day courses where political experts share their wisdom.
Last week, 30-year political veteran John Bailes led Catoosa County’s Candidates’ College.
Mr. Bailes, who chairs the Hamilton County Democratic Party, used local and national examples of winning methods. He gave tips on how to rev up a sluggish campaign or to overcome bad publicity, using Bill Clinton as an example.
From choosing an office to seek to assembling a campaign team, Mr. Bailes gave a step-by-step campaign guide to an interested audience.
Campaign essentials include name recognition, appropriate advertisements, a support network, consistent message and a solid stump speech. But, he said, the most important lesson is that “people are the heart of politics.”
Mr. Bailes said candidates should pound the pavement, meeting constituents.
“If you walk, you win,” he said.
In Whitfield County, prospective candidates may go to school for winning strategies on Wednesday. The Chamber of Commerce will assemble a staff of political veterans to offer tips.
“If you ever thought about running for office and ... don’t know what it takes, this will give you an idea,” said Phyllis Stephens, the Chamber’s executive vice president, who has run the Campaign Academy for several years.
The Campaign Academy will teach candidates — and campaign volunteers — the intricacies of running a local campaign, said County Commissioner Randy Waskul, who’s serving on the Campaign Academy panel.
“There’s a lot of nuances,” he said. Mr. Waskul said these details can creep up on an unprepared candidate.
Instruction will include how to qualify, manage finances and create campaign committees.
And prospective candidates and staff will learn how to love the media.
Ms. Partain — who helped run Judge Partain’s campaign — had one area of expertise then: media relations. She had worked as a newspaper reporter for five years.
She’ll offer media relations tips at the Campaign Academy, and expand on her most salient advice: Be accessible.
“So many people think they should be afraid of the media,” Ms. Partain said. “ ... You just need to know how to work with them.”
