New York's Political All Stars Align to Offer Free Candidate College

NEW YORK, NY (09/12/2011)(readMedia)-- This Sunday, September 18th, the good government groups Common Cause/New York, NY Civic, the Women's City Club of New York, and the New Roosevelt Initiative will present "Candidate College", a free, all-day special event, open to the public, aimed at training citizens of all backgrounds, ages and political beliefs, about how to mount a serious bid for elected office. The event, which will consist of a series of nonpartisan, non-ideological panel discussions focusing on different aspects of campaign craft, is intended to inspire people to get involved in the political process in the most direct way possible: by becoming a candidate.

The all-star roster of speakers include: Senator Gustavo Rivera; Councilmember Eric Ulrich; Councilmember Letitia James; District Leader Lincoln Restler; New York Civic President and former NYC Parks Commissioner Henry Stern; Bradley Tusk, founder of Tusk Strategies and Mayor Bloomberg's 2009 Campaign Manager; Emma Wolfe, Chief of Staff to Public Advocate Bill de Blasio; former Congressional candidate and MSNBC political analyst Krystal Ball; political consultant Roger Stone; Jimmy Vielkind, political reporter for the Albany Times Union; Steven M. Cohn, former Secretary to Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Chief of Staff in the Office of the Attorney General; Doug Forand, founding partner of Red Horse Strategies; New Roosevelt Initiative founder Bill Samuels; Oona Chatterjee, co-executive director, Make the Road New York; and many more.

Panel discussions throughout the day will cover the following topics:

(9:45am-11am) FIGURING OUT FUNDRAISING: Professional fundraisers, campaign finance experts, and grassroots organizers provide strategies and insights into how candidates can raise the money they need to run for office. The discussion will emphasize the virtues of small-money contributions.

(11:05am-12:20pm) MASTERING THE MEDIA: Prominent political reporters, directors of communication, and public relations pros talk about how to interact with the media and bring positive attention to a grassroots campaign.

(1:30pm-2:45pm) HOW THEY WON: A panel of elected officials from around New York City will talk about their experience running for office and the how they successfully won their seats.

(2:50pm-4:05pm) LESSONS FROM THE PROS: Some of New York's top campaign consultants break down the do's and don'ts of running for office.

(4:10pm-5:25pm) GETTING ORGANIZED: Seasoned field organizers, social networking gurus and political consultants explain how to use social media and online organizing effectively.

The conference will aim to teach future candidates how to run a clean, above-the-board, effective campaign as well as illuminate some of the pitfalls that often ensnare first-time candidates.

* All times are approximate