Commonwealthy

Time, money, and people- the three essentials of any political campaign, regardless of size or location. If you are thinking about running for local office, then this is an important podcast just for you! Learn how to make the most of the time, money, and people that you have in order to win your election. I am excited about this podcast today because I know that it will give you a great base to launch your political campaign for local office. If you are going to invest a half hour in your future election today, then make it this podcast! I know what a difference it can make for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: Where to start-How going door to door can work for you even beforehand-Why you need to raise money for your political campaign-What to do if you are nervous about askingWhy you need to talk to your family before you commit to running –How to get your spouse and family involved–Why you should consider having a volunteer take charge of an area- Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Learning how to do research for a political campaign is a must if you want to run for local office. Whether you are running a campaign by yourself or on a slate, knowing how to research your opponent or opponents and yourself can make all of the difference between winning and losing. I am excited to cover this topic with you today because I know the potential impact on your campaign of learning how to do research and what do to with information you find. It can help you shape the messaging for your political campaign as well as know what to expect from your opponent. I want to make sure that you are able to use your research to help you win your election! In this episode, you’ll learn: How to create a political message quadrant-Why you need to research yourself-How to research your opponent-What to do with the information you findWhy the dynamics of your town will impact your research –How going door to door can add to your research –How to take polls even if you can’t afford to- Resources: Jeremy Porter Communications: Political Message Quadrant Political Message Quadrant Example: What We Say About UsWhat We Say About Them What They Say About UsWhat They Say About Themselves Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Have you thought about running for office on a slate? If you have been thinking about running for your local township board, county board or school board, then you should consider if running on a slate would be the best option for you. Today we are going to cover the pros and cons of running on a slate, with a PAC, and as an individual. I am excited to cover this topic today because I know how exciting and impactful running for office on a slate can be for local candidates. Running for local office is always hard work and it can be very lonely if you are all by yourself. But a slate can help out with those problems- if it is the right slate for you. Today I am going to help you decide whether or not running on slate is right for your local political campaign. In this episode, you’ll learn: What you need to know before joining a slate-How to legally set up a slate-Why you might consider a PACHow raising your own money outside of the slate might help-What questions to ask before you join-Why you need to take a look at your own personality first-How strategy plays into slates-Why staying positive with your messaging matters- Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

There is so much that can be done on the activism side of politics to help make lasting change in your local community. Today on the Commonwealthy podcast we are going to be talking about seven types of political capacities that the right side needs to be involved with in order to bring our vision of a free market limited government to reality. I am excited to talk to you today about political capacities because I know that not everyone is going to run for local political office, but so many of us can make a real difference by fulfilling one of these capacities for the right. Whether you are currently involved in activism, thinking about getting involved in activism, or wanting to be involved in activism while you plan your local political campaign, today’s podcast will show you where to start. In this episode, you’ll learn: How you can research and change policy-Why investigative reporting is important in politics-What smaller organizations can do to impact your local areaHow smaller political organizations are creating change-What Media Matters is and why it matters-How lawyers can impact politics on a local level-Why you should be recruiting candidates-How using social media can be a political capacity- Resources: State Policy Network- website Heritage Foundation- website Cato Institute- website Watchdog- website Club for Growth- website Texans for Lawsuit Reform- website Goldwater Institute- website Institute for Justice- website Pacific Legal Foundation- website American Majority- website The Leadership Institute- website Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Are you wondering if attending political events is even worth your time, effort, and money? Are you tired of feeling like you are putting forth all of this effort to be at and throw different events, but have very little to show for it. Today I am going to give you tips on making political events pay off for your local political campaign or activist organization. I am excited to share these practical tips with you today because I know how frustrating it can be to do a political event and not have any real pay off for it. The advice I am going to share with you today is for things that I have learned either from others or the hard way. I know that these tips work because I have worked them myself! In this episode, you’ll learn: Why call to actions are so important-How to utilize volunteers at a political event-What to put on an email sign up sheetHow to make sure people actually sign up for your email list-Why you want yard signs and bumper stickers at the event-How to get donations at a political event-Why you shouldn’t put on many of your own events- Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Politics is scary! Trust me, I understand! If you are going to run for local office and make a difference in your community, then you need to be able to overcome that fear. Today on Commonwealthy I am talking about overcoming your fears in politics. I am going to help you move past your fears by giving your practical things that you can do for specific fears related to politics. I am excited to be discussing overcoming your fear in politics today because I know how many people are sitting on the sidelines in front of their televisions watching politics instead of making a real difference because they are too scared to step out and get involved. I believe that today’s podcast will be a game changer for you and many others who have a desire to be involved in local politics. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to get over your fear of getting involvedWhy you should consider bringing a friend with you-How to handle an angry person on the other side of the phone or doorWhat practical steps you can take to gain confidence in asking for money-How to get over a fear of public speaking-Why you should prepare for media interviews-What to consider to help motivate yourself to get over your fears- Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

One of the best ways to make a real difference in your community, election year or not, is to start a political organization. Local political organizations provide a permanent infrastructure to support limited government conservative candidates and provide a way to organize activism year round. Political organizations are key to getting our candidates elected so we can implement policy at any level.

You have put all of this time, energy, and money into running for local political office, but you lost the election. Did you just waste the last several months doing something that didn’t matter? Or perhaps can you look at the situation differently in your mind? Today on Commonwealthy we are going to cover what do you learn when you lose your election.

You just won your election. Congratulations! All of your hard work to campaigning for a local political office has paid off. So now what? Today on Commonwealthy Tina Keats and I will be discussing what you need to make sure to do now that you are a local elected official. Here’s a hint: the hard work is just starting!

As we rapidly approach the November 2016 election, political campaign yard signs are popping up all across this country. There is no better time than now to study signs and designs for a political campaign! Today we are going to discuss the basics of yard signs so you can be prepared for your next run for local office. I am excited to be covering this important topic with you today because I know the impact yard signs and designs can have on your political campaign. Yard signs are a great way to get name recognition and to build your support base. Whether you are planning a run for local political office in 2017 or just starting to consider becoming a local candidate, this podcast is a great resource for you on a campaign basic!

Are you running for local political office? Do you know what you need to be doing during this last month before the election? Don’t worry, I am here to fill you in on everything that you need to do so you are prepared to have the best shot at winning possible! With only four weeks to go before Election 2016, I am excited to share my last minute to do list with you so that as a candidate for local political office you can hit the ground running! Make sure to listen to this podcast so you know what you need to be doing in the last month before the election.

Are you new to Commonwealthy and wondering why I put so much emphasis on running for local political office? Or perhaps you have been listening to the Commonwealthy podcast for a while now and are thinking to yourself, “Why in the world would I want to do all of this work just to serve in a local political office? What are some good reasons to run for local political office?” Today I am excited to be covering six reasons to run for local political office. With over half a million political offices in America and so much good that can be done, I am hoping to inspire you to take that first step towards making a difference in your community by running for local office. In this episode, you’ll learn: How you can make your spare time matterWhat you can do with your passion to serve others-How public service is different than giving backWhat you can do to stop the eroding of your communityWhy staying positive mattersWhat you can do to change the public’s view of politicians- Resources: Campaign Planner Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

I am excited to have Kristina Keats back on the podcast today to help me cover everything you need to know about the last two months before your local election! If you are starting to panic, don’t! We will break down in simple steps what you need to make sure to do so you can keep your calm while you run for local political office. I know it can seem overwhelming when you only have sixty days left before the election. There is so much to do and so little time to do it in! But don’t worry, we will help you by making sure you know what is worth spending your time on and what you skip. In this episode, you’ll learn: What to make sure you have already doneHow to make sure your yard signs aren’t stolen-Why you want to emphasize early voting in your GOTV planHow to get enough volunteers for your Get Out the Vote planWhy you should keep identifying votersHow to keep your cool in tough situations- Resources: Campaign Planner Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Are you curious about how to put everything together that we talk about on the Commonwealthy podcast? Does it just all seem so overwhelming? Well, don’t worry. Today I am going to explain how to use our detailed campaign planner, which is free from Commonwealthy, so that you can have every step of your political campaign for local office planned out. I am excited for you to learn how to use this campaign planner. It details out every aspect of political campaigns. The campaign planner will help you organize your campaign ahead of time so that you know exactly what you need to do every step of the way! In this episode, you’ll learn: Where to startWhat types of voters you need to be aware of-How to approximate the number of voters talked toWhy your overall plan determine your fundraising goalHow to keep your overhead costs lowWhat parts of the campaign planner you can skip for a small campaign- Resources: Campaign Planner Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Are you working a full time job while running a political campaign for local office? Then you need some help making sure that your calendar stays organized and up to date. You need a scheduler! Today we are talking about the role of a scheduler and how they can help you in your political campaign. I am excited for you to learn about this important volunteer position that will really help your political campaign. A scheduler will help answer your phone calls, arrange events for you to appear at, and keep your calendar up to date. The role of a scheduler really is invaluable for your political campaign! In this episode, you’ll learn: Who could be a schedulerWhat needs to be on your schedule-What type of events a scheduler should look forWhat information would you need on each eventWhy you want to know something about groups inviting youWho you need to share your calendar with- Resources: Schedule Request Form: here Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Are you running in a local election against an incumbent? Do you want to know what to do so you can beat the incumbent? Then this podcast is for you! Beating an incumbent isn't impossible; it just takes work! I am excited to share with you some of my top tips for beating an incumbent and winning your local election. You might feel like you are in giant battle in your campaign against the incumbent, but it is not a futile one. If you are willing to work hard and take my advice to heart, you can win! In this episode, you’ll learn: What advantages the incumbent hasWhat advantages you have-Why it is okay to run twiceHow to use the press to your advantageWhy you should consider having a group created for the negativesHow to get local businessmen to support youHow to find a group of people to help you- Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Today I am going to discuss a very important topic, especially for the unusual election cycle that we are having in 2016: the effect of the rest of the ticket on your political campaign. When you are preparing for your local election, you need to think about who and what else is going to be on the ballot. Believe it or not, that can really affect your voter turnout! I am excited to discuss this topic today because I think it is especially crucial in this year’s November election. I don’t want your political campaign for local office to suffer just because of the potential unusual voter turnout for the top of the ticket. Take the time now to prepare so you have the best shot at winning your political campaign! In this episode, you’ll learn: Why you shouldn’t assume Republicans will show up to vote-How you can ensure a good voter turnout regardless–What role voter ID should play in your political campaign-How to encourage independents to show up for you-What role mailings can play in helping you win-Why you should consider initiatives and referendums- Resources: Voter ID Podcast: CW 14 Analyzing Past Election Results: CW 03 Targeting Voters: CW 13 Precinct Work Podcast: CW 44 Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Razzaq Lodhia is back on the show again today in continuation of Commonwealthy #59, Election Campaign Graphic Design. Razzaq runs ElectionGraphics.us and has many years of experience designing graphics, logos, websites, and other resources for political campaigns. In today’s podcast, we are discussing how your local political campaign can use photography, videography, and novelties to help you get elected. I am excited to have Razzaq back on the podcast today as we dig further into how design and media resources can help you as you run for local office. If you are looking for the insider tips on how to get great candidate photos, how to effectively use video, and what novelties are worth the money, then this podcast is for you. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why you don’t want a portrait studio headshot-Where to take photos for your political campaign–How to use video to build a rapport with the voters-What equipment you need to film videos for your campaign-How to use novelties to raise funds-Why you need to plan far in advance-What novelty items are a waste of money- Resource: ElectionGrahpics.us: website Contact information: Razzaq Lodhia Email: design@electiongraphics.us John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!

Razzaq Lodhia is back on the show again today in continuation of Commonwealthy #59, Election Campaign Graphic Design. Razzaq runs ElectionGraphics.us and has many years of experience designing graphics, logos, websites, and other resources for political campaigns. In today’s podcast, we are discussing how your local political campaign can use photography, videography, and novelties to help you get elected. I am excited to have Razzaq back on the podcast today as we dig further into how...

Are you curious about what it takes to produce quality election campaign graphic design that will help you win your local election for office? Today I have the privilege of interviewing Razzaq Lodhia of ElectionGraphics.us about political campaign graphic design. If you are curious about how to have a great logo and literature, then this is the podcast for you! I am excited to have Razzaq on the podcast today because he has many years of experience in a very important area of political campaigns. From designing campaign logos and literature to websites and candidate videos, Razzaq does it all! He provides some great education on graphic design and literature printing for future and current political candidates alike. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why designing a campaign logo is the first step-How to get your website up and running quickly–What is involved in the graphic design process-Why it is easier to stick with stock colors for printing literature-How often to send out email blasts-Why you need to schedule your campaign out- Resources: 5 Products Vital to the Marketing Strategy of Your Local Campaign: article Millennial Likely Voters Use Digital Video to Learn about Political Candidates: article Contact information: John Tsarpalas Twitter: @JTsarpalas Email: john@commonwealthy.com Transcript: Available here Thank you for listening!