By Shala Watson
Multimedia Writer
Interested in running for a public office?
Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) will host a campaign seminar Sept. 27-28 at the TFB Conference and Training Center in Waco for candidates, their spouses and others involved or interested in campaigns.
The seminar is hosted once every two years to help those interested in public office better understand and prepare for campaigns and service.
“The seminar is an opportunity for people who are interested in campaigning to come and learn everything from evaluating a candidate’s electability to how to organize a campaign staff and how to raise money,” Billy Howe, TFB associate director of Government Affairs, said.
The program, he said, is designed to take candidates through the campaign process—from making the decision to run for office to election day.
The course outlines how to evaluate the candidate and the electorate, build a campaign structure, raise money, enlist allies, create coalitions and get voter attention.
A valuable part of the seminar, Howe said, is helping candidates evaluate themselves and whether or not they are considering public service for the right reasons.
He said determining why they want to want to run is critical to have a successful campaign.
Howe and other TFB Government Affairs staff will conduct the two-day course.
“Our Government Affairs team collectively has more than 20 years of experience doing campaigns,” Howe said. “We have staff who have worked on campaigns at the state level and also congressional campaigns.”
The hands-on course encourages serving in public offices and provides the tools to run an effective campaign.
“Knowledge is power, and certainly, this campaign seminar gives you the knowledge that you need to be able to know what to expect and how to organize yourself,” Howe said.
He noted the seminar has had a successful history, helping Reps. Ernest Bailes, DeWayne Burns and Kyle Kacal get elected to state office and equipping others in their campaigns for commissioners court, school board positions and more.
The deadline to register is Sept. 1, and registration forms are available online.
Being a TFB member is not required to participate in the seminar, but there is a $40 discount for those who are.
Contact Howe at bhowe@txfb.org or 254-751-2208 for more information.