Now that another campaign season is underway in Lake Worth, a reminder:

One side in Lake Worth politics understands the value of time and campaigning all too well. The other side does too but they’re more inclined to fall into the trap: “Let’s talk”.

There are many people in this City genuinely interested and want to learn more about you as a candidate but there are others who will NEVER VOTE FOR YOU, EVER, no matter what you say or do. The problem is this: how do you tell the difference? It’s not easy.

One side has been using a devilishly clever tactic for many years now: the conversation “at the door” to bog down an opposition campaign. Here’s how it works, an example: The candidate (and this goes for the campaign volunteers as well) are canvassing a neighborhood:

• Knock Knock
• Door opens, “Hello”.
• “Good afternoon. I’m a candidate for City Commission”.
• “Wonderful. Can you tell me about [any current topic will do]?”

Then a conversation will ensue for 15–20 minutes, or even longer. Doesn’t sound like a big deal, but what if this happens just 5 times a day? That is:

≈1½ hours a day for the candidate and each canvasser or ≈44 hours a month for each person in the campaign! 

How many other people could have been contacted by the campaign in that time? A lot. So keep this in mind as you get those campaigns up and running especially if you’re up against someone with name recognition and that’s all they have to run on: train your people how to canvass properly. Stay tuned for more about this later on.