Molly Donahue reports on a recent candidate training event in Cedar Rapids. Donahue was the 2016 Democratic nominee in Iowa House district 68 and is seeking the nomination for the same seat next year. -promoted by desmoinesdem
On Wednesday, June 7 in Cedar Rapids, former two-term State Senator Steve Sodders held a campaign literacy workshop at the Cherry building in Newbo, hosted by Bex Hurns. Sodders is spending much of his free time helping out candidates or potential candidates with pertinent information on how to run a campaign. The small group of fifteen people who were permitted to attend the Cedar Rapids event included those who are thinking about running for an office, as well as others like myself, who are already running.
Former Senator Sodders shared much of his story on the campaign trail, giving secrets of the trade to help candidates and potential candidates not only be effective, but more efficient while running for office. His advice ran from the questions you need to ask yourself about your campaign and the information you need to know about your opponent’s campaign, to finding information you need about the political landscape, and how to best utilize that information for efficiency. Fundraising tips, what to focus on, and purchasing dos and don’ts to maximize your message were also part of his message.
In addition to Steve Sodders, Ben Foecke from Campaign Greenhouse spoke about this new venture and discussed the reasons behind this start-up’s existence. The former Iowa Democratic Party executive director and staffer for the Iowa Senate Majority Fund provided valuable information for the start-up campaigns.
Finally, Ashley Vanorny spoke to the intimate group of fifteen about Eastern Iowa’s chapter of the New Leaders Council. That organization will hold trainings for new activists and potential future candidates to take back to their communities to help mobilize and impact progressive change.
All in is hosting a Political Party Live podcast at Brewhemia in Cedar Rapids on June 13 at 6:00 pm (doors open at 5:30).
There will be a pre-party meeting up in Studio 128, hosted again by Bex Hurns in the Cherry Building at 5pm on June 13, to mix and mingle with a short Q & A with Linn County Supervisor Stacey Walker before walking over to Political Party Live at Brewhemia together.
If you are interested in attending, they ask that you please go to the event page on Facebook and sign up for Meet Me At The Cherry, hosted by All In, as space is limited.
Top image: Steve Sodders speaks to participants at a campaign literacy workshop. Contact info for Molly Donahue’s campaign in Iowa House district 68: website, Twitter, Facebook.