About the Authors

Jim Day, Tom Ford, and Barbara Hickman, along with Bob Hickman, comprise the Board of Directors of Grassroots Videos, a nonprofit tax-exempt organization. The group was formed in December of 1999 for the purpose of providing a means whereby citizens could voice their opinions on issues of concern to them and of interest to residents of the area. The primary media is a weekly television program, video-taped and edited by the amateur members of the group and aired on public access television.

This book came about because the three authors have all been candidates at one time or another and saw the need for a written guide for inexperienced candidates and their campaign managers.

The information in this book was gleaned from a questionnaire sent to a number of current and past political candidates in the area  and a few campaign managers with the hope that if an important item was not included in the questionnaire, the responder would add his/her wisdom, which did happen. But some of those to whom we sent the questionnaire refused to fill it out. From one we heard that they didn't want to share their campaigning secrets with anyone. Another said that newcomers should learn by their own experience. So, be forewarned: not all experienced campaigners are willing to help a newcomer.