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In Campaign Class, They See How to Run Daniel McCallum strode to the front of the classroom, sat down at a table and in the booming voice of a true politician, began his speech. “Good evening, I’m Daniel McCallum and I’m running for New York City mayor. I’m running to remove that thorn in your side called the Bloomberg administration. The taxes are too high and I’m going to raise—I’m going to lower your taxes so I can give you the services that you pay for.” McCallum, a church music director, wasn’t really running for office. Neither was real estate agent Akhtar Ali, who promised to get the broken sidewalks fixed and the garbage picked up in his Queens neighborhood. Nor was Tribeca restaurateur Arthur Gregory, who wanted to do something about Downtown’s need for schools and health care facilities. All three were there, among some 20 other students, to learn the ins and outs of the electoral process. “How to Run for Public Office”, a six-session evening course, was held at Borough of Manhattan Community College and sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Some in the class had real political ambitions: to be City Councilmembers, legislators, or mayor. Others said they just wanted to better understand the election process. The League’s goal was to encourage New Yorkers to get involved in the political life of the city, and they brought in political pros to pass along their knowledge. Following an introductory session taught by former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, who compared running for office to running a marathon (“It affects your personal life, your family life, your whole life.”) the students listened to experts on election law, fundraising, polling and canvassing and getting out the vote on election day. On the evening when students gave their speeches, the subject was debating and, more importantly, how to play to the TV camera. Rick Junger of Manhattan Neighborhood Network and Laura Altschuler, who organizes political debates for the League, taught the class. “Avoid spicy meals for hours before you go on. You could avoid an embarrassing situation,” warned Junger, who produces televised debates. Following tips on microphone placement, camera angles, dress, and on-camera demeanor, the students got a chance to present closing remarks of their own. Aaron Haberer, a Borough of Manhattan Community College student dressed in a suit and bearing a neatly trimmed goatee, gave a polished delivery as he spoke about the need for affordable housing and more English classes for immigrants. But Junger didn’t like his “unusual hand thing.” That is, the way Haberer clasped his hands, index fingers pointed at the audience. “Television does weird things to people,” he told the group. A man in the second row raised his hand. “I’d like to ask an odd question, and don’t take it personally,” he said, looking towards Haberer. “Is it good to have facial hair or not?” “It didn’t bother Abe Lincoln,” Altschuler replied. During a break, Day Piercy, who coordinated the program for the League, scanned the room, noting with pleasure the diversity of the group. “This is quintessential New York,” she said. “That was one of our main goals, to reach out beyond those who might normally come to one of these things; not the policy wonks, just the ordinary folks from the community.” “We tend to look at politics with a jaundiced eye,” she added, “but you talk to people in this class and you get the sense that we all can make a difference. These days, especially, that’s good news.”
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