AGENDA: April 26, 2014 OCG Candidate School
7:30-8:15 Registration and breakfast
8:20-8:35 Welcome: RIC President, Nancy Carriuolo;
OCG President, Margaret Kane
Candidate School admin and housekeeping: Prof. Tom Schmeling and Sandy Riojas
8:40 – 9:20 Session 1
Attributes of a Successful Candidate: What it takes to run and win, and how running for office will change your life; impact on your family, etc. Former AG Arlene Violet, moderator; Rep. Maria Cimini (D), Rep. Brian Newberry (R)
9:25-10:00 Session 2
Things you need to know (and some you didn’t know you need to know) to be a candidate. This includes eligibility, financial disclosure and ethical issues. Introduced by Michael Goldberg.
Secretary of State, Ralph Mollis (15 minutes)
Ethics Commission, Jason Gramitt (15 minutes)
10:00 – 10:10 Break
10:15-11:15 Session 3 Labor and Management; 60 minutes, moderated by OCG President Margaret Kane
How does a candidate navigate these two powerful forces without sacrificing personal beliefs and not lose an election because he/she didn’t toe one line or the other? Scott Molloy, Professor of Labor and Industrial Relations, URI
Primer on Municipal and School Committee Finances: Introduction to one of today’s most critical political issues; Paulette Hamilton (North Smithfield Town Administrator); Justice (ret) Bob Flanders; former Auditor General Ernie Almonte
11:20 -12:50 Session 4 Message, Marketing and the Media; 90 minutes, moderated by Gene Valicenti, Channel 10
How to be Heard above the Clutter: Developing and delivering an effective message; importance of a website; effective signage. Tad Devine; Rep. Larry Valencia (D).
How to Target and Persuade Voters to Vote for You; Identifying likely voters; other research; door-to-door campaigning; the art of the 30 second conversation. Prof.Victor Profughi; Rep. Michael Chippendale (R); Mayor Dan McKee (D).
Positive media coverage is your best advertising; how do you earn it? How best to deal with media questioning and scrutiny.
Kate Nagle (GoLocalProv), Tom Ward (Valley Breeze). John Loughlin (WPRO).
12:50-1:30 Lunch
Luncheon Speaker – Former Congressman Bob Weygand
1:35 -2:15 Session 5
Campaign Organization: Building your team; roles and responsibilities of candidates, paid staffs and volunteers; importance of the treasurer. Michael Goldberg, moderator; Professor Victor Profughi; Mayor James Diossa; Joshua Giraldo
2:20-3:05 Breakout Sessions A
B1 Reaching a Diverse Electorate Panel Discussion: Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, moderator; Carolyn Mark, East Greenwich School Committee (D), Rep. Ray Hull (D), Delia Rodriguez, RI Spanish Radio
B2 Importance of Local Media: Local elections are often won and lost in the community press. This session advises municipal and school committee office-seekers on the value of such media outlets. Professor Michelle Brophy-Baermann, moderator; John Howell [Warwick Beacon]; Tom Ward [Valley Breeze]; Sheila Mullowney [Newport Daily News]
3:05-3:15: Break
3:20-4:05: Breakout Sessions B
C1 Use and Misuse of Websites and Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc.Michael Goldberg, moderator;Casey Dahm, OCG webmaster; Ian Donnis RI NPR
C2 Pros and Cons of Negative Campaigning, and dealing with skeletons in your own closet; Ted Nesi, moderator; Tad Devine, private investigatorVictor Pichette; Professor Victor Profughi
4:10-4:55 Session 6
Fundraising: How to get the Money You Need to Win, and How to Spend it Wisely; Ian Donnis, moderator; Rep. Patricia Morgan (R). Ed Pacheco, CouncilwomanSuzy Alba (D), Tony Bucci.
4:55-5:00: OCG wrap up