How to Win Your Next Finance Election: Tip One: French Associates
A briefing from
French Associates and
Banach, Banach & Cassidy
Almost everyone believes that education is important. And, almost everybody says that we must invest in our children because they are "the future." Given these beliefs, it seems that school districts should win every election they bring to the voters. Au contraire!
People vote in school elections for myriad reasons. This is what makes every election unique. Yet, school districts that tend to win at the polls do exhibit some characteristics that losers don't. The winning characteristics and some related tips are the subject of this article.
Build a support base
School leaders know that most voters in school elections decide how to vote long before election day. On election day voters step in to the voting booth, close the curtain, and pull one of two levers-yes or no.
School leaders also understand that campaigns don't win elections. Campaigns simply harness support that is already there.
And where does this support come from? It is the result of doing good over time. It is also the result of making sure people in your community know about your good work. Put differently, when school people compromise on communication with their constituents, they build barriers to election success.
Tip One: Think long-term. Build a base of support for your schools by doing good work, engaging people in the educational process, and communicating effectively. Use campaigns to reinforce the support base that you build and tap it for yes votes on election day.