The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Richard P. during the 2009-2010 League.
Mission: Take Action - Volunteer for a Political Campaign
When I explained this Ambassador League to my parents, I got a quick response. After outlining how I needed to spend 10 hours on a political campaign, my dad said he had a friend running for office. Soon, I was given a name and his e-mail address. Eventually, I was invited to attend an orientation dinner.
The dinner took place on a bright sunny evening at Bistro Bordeau in downtown Auburn Hills. I met Keith Stonehouse, my father's friend and former business partner. Keith, an energetic and ambitious young man, has an impressive resume. He is the vice president of the Franklin Title Agency, Volunteer of the Year Award Winner of 2007, board member of the Auburn Hills Boys and Girls Club, and board member of the Auburn Hills American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
During his presentation, Keith gave us an idea of how he wanted to help the city and why he was the right man for the job. He had four missions or objectives if elected: 1)promote the Boys and Girls Club of Auburn Hills, 2) develop the city parks, 3) generate more business by promoting downtown Auburn Hills, and 4) try to improve housing situations.
Afterward, I had the opportunity to talk to him. I liked Keith, and asked about going door-to-door with him.
Several weeks later I handed out literature with Keith. We met once again in the downtown area, at a place called the Toasted Bun. We discussed the plan and connected with the other volunteers. After a short breakfast we broke into teams for our door-to-door activities. Though it was cold, my partner and I were among the last to quit working.
The next Saturday, I did the same thing but this time Keith also took me to the local Boys and Girls Club. It was amazing to see the kids and the staff interact with him. Keith was "it." People love him regardless of their age. Children gathered in excitement. He knew them and they were "on the same team."
Watching him at the Boys and Girls Club gave me a clear view of the real Keith Stonehouse. There he wasn't simply a local politician, not the vice president of the Franklin Title Agency, not merely a resident of Auburn Hills. He is a man who believes in the kids he works with; believes enough to invest his time, money, and thoughts into creating a better future for them. I left the club with an even stronger impression of Keith. I liked him initially, now I had more insight into why I had such a positive feeling.
Regrettably, on election day Keith lost by just over a hundred votes. He plans on running again in 2011 and I hope to help him. After recently attending the Citizens for Traditional Values Leadership Academy and Grassroots Campaigning event, I gained some knowledge that could be useful in a future election. The concepts explored at the seminar helped explain why Keith came up just short of becoming a council member.
Throughout the academy, presenters reminded us that campaigns are a battle of resources. By using your resources at the right time, for the right reasons, and targeting the right people, you will win your election. We also learned that the typical, targeted voter, will generally vote for a candidate if they see and hear from the nominee at least seven times.
In retrospect, the Stonehouse campaign fell short when it came to targeting our voters and reaching them at least seven times. Unfortunately, we probably only reached our targeted voters three or four times. I wish I had been familiar with this targeting information when I was volunteering with Mr. Stonehouse.
Working on a local political campaign was an eye opening experience. I got to know Keith Stonehouse, visit the Boys and Girls Club of Auburn Hills, see the best and the worst of what the city had to offer, and learn about the process involved when running for a city council position. I leave with a better understanding of local politics and the people it affects.
