What I Learned (and Re-Learned) When I Ran for Local Office

摘要: As political scientists, many of us en courage our students to get involved in community activities and local poli tics; fact science colleagues have run for state (and, less frequently, national) fice. While the literature on parties, elec tions, voting behavior may help provide with some context when we (or students) enter arena, there is a striking dearth (and candidate behavior) elections. What Herson (1957) referred as "the lost world munici pal government" can still be so charac terized today, though few recent studies attempted predict winners mu nicipal races (for example, McGleneghan Ragland 2002; Lieske 1989). This article analyzes my own education politics, which resulted from candidacy Town Council Ca zenovia, New York November, 2005. I came experience participating campaign expectations shaped by teaching research American politics at national level, found that these often gave way specifics context. Jen nifer Lawless, scientist ning Congress 2006, expressed this sentiment as: "Political all generalities. Politics individual cir cumstances" (Fischer 2006). My 2005 broke long tradi tion uncontested elections turn outs low 10%. Voter turnout reached 54%, friend candi date supervisor, Liz Moran, defeated incumbent 54%-46%. was one two people elected seat five member Council.' In ways, results could seen surprise. We ran Democrats town 2-1 Republican registration advantage, were women candidates had female councilor no supervisors dur ing its 200-year history. But running