Dress Like You Really Want the Job

By Norman Kincaide

Ten years ago, I entered upon my first active participation in a political campaign. This happened at the GOP State Assembly in Colorado Springs, April 2016, when Kimmi Clark Lewis asked if I would be one of her Facebook page administrators. I said: “Yes.”

Lewis recognized my writing and publishing skills during the defeat of the Canyons & Plains National Heritage Area in 2014 and desired to enlist those qualities in her campaign for Colorado House District 64. She embarked on a very vigorous primary campaign to defeat the incumbent, Tim Dore. I followed her all over the eastern plains, taking photographs, writing articles and sending out campaign press releases, while monitoring her campaign Facebook page. I also debriefed her on her public presentations. She was eager to know how the audience responded. Lewis always dressed business formal or business casual. She was always well prepared with her message to the citizens of eastern Colorado. She won the primary with 65% of the vote and the general election with 75%.

With the county assembly coming up soon, for those seeking county, state or federal offices, dress like you really want the job, even though you may be running uncontested. Dressing business formal or casual demonstrates respect for your potential voters. A well-executed business formal presentation indicates you prepared before hand and practiced your message. For men, at a minimum, wear a sport coat and pants, for women, a business formal outfit. Avoid facial tattoos, septum rings, face piercings, and rainbow-colored hair. Every presentation is a job interview for elected office. Treat your audience with respect. All candidates, be aware of how to read the room and how your message resonated with the audience. Have someone debrief you on your performance. If you have a campaign Facebook page or other social media platforms, keep it free of foul language and name calling. It is your social media platform and you have a right to restrict it to your personal standards. Keep your campaign as clean as you can make it and good luck at the county assembly and beyond.