G.o.D.: The Campaign Consultant, how important is having one to win an election? What about WHO the consultant is, what conclusions can the public draw? Have you had what the public might consider a controversial consultant?
Katy Sorenson: I think it helps to have a consultant who knows the ins and outs of campaigning, along with the political landscape. If the candidate is very sophisticated and knowledgeable, maybe he or she could do without one, but it would be difficult. The consultant always did my direct mail and campaign commercials as well (with my input), and they know the deadlines, time-lines, strategy and help with messaging. They can also assist with polling, if desired. A consultant is only one member of the team; the candidate should be the one providing the vision and direction. If those roles get reversed, trouble can ensue.
In my initial campaign, Irene Secada did most of the work. Subsequently, Ric Katz was the main consultant who did the above tasks, and Irene assisted. In my last campaign, Steve Marin was the consultant. I had a good working relationship with all of them, and I would recommend them.
G.o.D.: Walking the District: Tell us about how you walk and how you talk? What should your future constituents learn about you in these visits? How long do you stay? How often did you walk?
Katy Sorenson: I walked and walked and walked! I always had a driver, and I would go to the homes of frequent voters. I would introduce myself and hand out a piece of literature. In my first election when no one knew me, I would give a bit of biographical info, then state that I was running to beat Larry Hawkins, who at that point had completely discredited himself. In subsequent elections, I would always ask "how am I doing"? and discuss the critical issues of the day. These visits could last anywhere from a minute to 10 minutes, but I tried to keep it short to maximize the number of people I reached. I walked any weekday evening when I didn't have a fundraiser or an event, and Saturdays and Sundays, morning and afternoons.
G.o.D.: The Campaign Report: Is taking contributions from anyone ever off limits? Can we draw conclusions from the campaign reports? What should we read into a campaign contribution of $5,000 all by one person via different corporations. Are these contributions a necessary evil?
Katy Sorenson: I took everyone's contributions, and thanked them for their investment in good government. If I knew there was a legal problem with someone, I would not take a contribution. Never did I lead any contributor to think that I owed them anything else except to answer their phone calls and listen to their issues. I think it's a good idea for the public to scrutinize contributions, but you can't really draw conclusions until the person is in office and performing. Unless someone is independently wealthy, money is a necessary part of winning an election.
Another thing to evaluate is how grassroots the campaign is. If there are many volunteers from community groups, neighborhoods and civic organizations, it is likely that the candidate will feel more responsible to those people than to people who merely write a check. Sweat equity counts!
G.o.D.: How do voters decide between candidates, what should they look for in a district 8 candidate? What should voters ask the candidates? If you were speaking to the candidates, what would you think are the most important issues?
Katy Sorenson: I think what is important is the candidates life experience, work experience, and views of the County.
I would want to know what would be their priorities (land use and transit, economy, what to do about Jackson Memorial Hospital, social justice in a diverse community,
affordable housing, etc.) and how would they go about trying to accomplish their goals?
G.o.D.: Who should contribute and why?
Katy Sorenson: Anyone who cares about the future of Miami-Dade County.
G.o.D: Why should a person from outside the district throw a fundraiser for a district 8 candidate?
Katy Sorenson: Because with any luck, the candidate might be concerned about countywide and regional issues that transcend the parochial interests of the district. See all the issues I listed above.
G.o.D.: What would you say to district 8 voters about this election? What would you say to the candidates?
I would ask the voters to evaluate who would be the person who would best represent the public interest and would work hard to leave this county better than they found it. Who has a track record? Who has the skills, knowledge, work ethic, values to contribute to the betterment of the county?
To the candidates, I would say, District 8 is a diverse and demanding place. People expect a lot. This campaign will take all of your time -- 7 days a week, 16 hours a day. Be prepared. Study the issues, raise money and meet as many voters as you can. Get a great volunteer team and make sure they're well supervised and working according to the campaign plan. HAVE a campaign plan, for that matter! Tell the truth, admit it when you don't know something.
Gimleteye: What is the most unexpected lesson you learned as a county commissioner?
Katy Sorenson: Maurice Ferre once told me, "there are no friends in politics, only temporary alliances." I think it's important to remember who your real friends are -- they are your family and a few others who love you unconditionally. When you're a commissioner, though, it's all about what have you done for me lately? Personal relationships are important for the soul and relationships are important in politics. But principles and serving the public interest should always come before relationships when it's time to vote or to advocate a position.
It is hard not to be cynical about county government. What qualities are important, to stay up into the late hours of the morning knowing that you will be on the losing side of a vote?
People are cynical about ALL government. Gandhi said (I'm paraphrasing) you always have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, it may not be in your time that you get the result you want. But if you do nothing, there will be no change.
I have always felt a tremendous sense of responsibility to the public and to myself -- to be intellectually honest and to serve to the best of my ability.
Gimleteye: Do you think that the economic crisis has changed the county commission in any way?
Katy Sorenson: No.
If you have any questions for Commissioner Katy Sorenson that you think I should have asked, write them in comments and we will try to do a follow-up piece.
Commissioner Sorenson said she shared my goal of wanting a good commissioner in District 8. Let's all make it happen by working together. Talk to your friends and neighbors about the candidates...because in my opinion, this is one of our most important County Commission seats.
32 comments:
Some good advice for the candidates, I hope they are listening. With Marin in the race for Taddeo, the others had better get smart.
No one has been to my house.
The question the commisioner needs to answr is who she is supporting.
She didn't answer your question about the $5,000 campaign donation.
How about a question about re- districting ? It is not fair that both Homestead and the Redlands are split between two districts, the old divide and conquer.
It was worth reading to the end for that last answer. It speaks volumes. Thank you Kakakaty for being our Commissioner!
What I would have asked:
Why are some commissioners so reluctant to accept incorporation, and, why are some residents so afraid of incorporation? You governed both incorporated and unincorporated. How is it different?
Many cities have shown they are not capable of financial or development responsibility. Homestead is a good example. Residents should be afraid of incorporation. Big money controls elections and those with the green would ultimately pave the Redlands.
Seems like the Obdulio Piedra campaign is inline with what Sorenson states is important to win. With Piedra as the only campaign that has volunteers knocking on doors, it will be tough for even the $500K Self Donating TADDEO to compensate. We need a real person who has life experience in community service and private business to lead us out of this hole. Go Obdulio Piedra! Marin is only good for one thing, Absentee Ballots. Once you neutralize that effort, the score goes back to 0-0.
I thank Katy for taking the time to answer these. This is a good framework for ANY local candidate. Maybe some Dist. 2 candidates would find this useful too to try to un seed Rolle! (I can dream)!
Thanks EoM too for putting this together.
Excuse Me? Flinn has been knocking on doors as an advocate since 1996.
He is walking now... HE has been walking, not his supporters or paid staffers.
To "Rejected in Kendall": contact me at albert@electAlbert.com and I'll be glad to give you a call. There are over 100,000 voters in the district, and we have reached only about 21,000 so far, through door knocking, phone calls & face-to-face meetings around town and at campaign events. It's a big effort, but we're following Katy's prescription to a "T".
One thing that wasn't on Katy's list: impostors are posing as members of our campaign, spreading misinformation. Someone out there either wants this SEAT too badly, or wants to stop ME too badly! Thankfully, the people they visited saw through it and called us.
Katy, you were right! I'm learning a lot from this process. Thanks for your wise counsel.
To the Anon that said “Many cities have shown they are not capable of financial or development responsibility.” First you think the county can do it better? If bigger the government is better then why not just have federal government run everything all the way down to local municipal government services. You can let Washington decide how to fix your sidewalk or pick up your garbage. My continuation is the smaller local municipal government is the less big money plays a part. Sooner or later the people of homestead will get their act together and elect the right people. Under county rule they would have no or little (1/13 of commission) say on who governs them.
Someone out there either wants this SEAT too badly, or wants to stop ME too badly! Thankfully, the people they visited saw through it and called us.
Oh please, that is silly. I worked in the presidential race and that sort of non-sense did not happen even then. I don't think county race would inspire copy-cat Al's.
I haven't heard of anyone of the campaigns walking smear another campaign or pretend to be with another one. That's just so out there. But, I am a recepient of the infamous "This is Albert from your local Crime Watch" robo call. You lost the consideration of you as a candidate on that day to me.
That Crime Watch call makes me wonder if he is jeopardizing Crime Watch's non-profit status. Big issue for a non-profit to have their name used improperly.
I didn't get a call, but I did have neighbor tell me it was a warning that he was coming and for her to feel safe to answer the door. It is scary having a unknown company's machine dial my number and then tell me it is okay to open the door. Weird campaign practices in play these days.
Very nice Albert, very nice, indeed!
You employ a "robo-call" operation to make the thousands of "contacts" you claim you've made BUT now that you've received a number of negative responses to one of your tactics, you try to disown it by claiming it was someone else's campaign - like you are really THAT important for another campaign to spend vital $$$ resources this way to stop you of all candidates. Nice!
That type of bafoonery may work in Hialeah and Little Havana, but not in District 8.
Robo Calls are downright intrusive and insulting! If you don't care enough to have a live person contact me for my vote, you don't deserve my consideration! Period!
WOW! I've heard of politicians using questionable methods to get to the voters but this is a new low - even for Harum-Alvarez.
How can you use the credibility of an established and trusted community organization like Crime Watch to slither your way into someone's home. That's just downright wrong!
We have a saying in Spanish - "Te salio el tiro por la culata!" It's slang for "what you did, really backfired!"
Oh well, "koo koo ruuu koo koooo!"
All phone calls get the fax in my house. I think the people I want to speak with can call my cell or fax me. :o)
Sorry but Flinn doesn't have a chance. This race is between Taddeo and Piedra. The rest should just pack up their bags and go somewhere else. My money is on Taddeo just because she has put in close to $750K of her own money into this race. We all know that Miami's Politics always goes with where the money is!!!! Sucks, but it is true.
Whoa...You would vote for person who buys their way into a seat?
What sane person puts 750K of their own money into a 6,ooo a year job?
Shocked in Kendall
Yea, it is very sad but its true - money does buy elections no matter how unqualified the candidate is.
Even more disturbing is the fact that the DNC (Democratic National Committee) is lending some of their operatives to Taddeo's campaign. I was told of this "little nugget" this weekend from someone who is very well connected to them. It's all very "hush, hush" cause it may piss-off all the other Dems who are running.
Gee, I wonder why they're doing this - maybe cause they want someone who is well-positioned to take on the Cuban again? Or maybe run for one of the new seats that may be created, once redistricting takes effect - only 2 years away?
Whatever the reason, I hate it when the national or state parties get involed in local elections. Just goes to show that whomever the powers that be want - THEY GET! Now matter the qualifications.
How sad, indeed!
this is a non-partisan race
The parties often help candidates who ask in non partisan races. I am not happy with the nit picking going on here in comments. You are attacking each other when you should be focused on paying attention to the great information Sorenson has offered you all. Grow up and act like adults. And take her advice it was meant to help all of you.
As I wrote this morning, I really thank Katy and EoM for this information.
After reading 20 something posts since, I would have to ask a few more.
From what I understand, because this is a non partisan race, candidates cannot take funds from any party affiliated organization. It's restricted. But, is hiring party help restricted? I don't see how it could be, but I'd like to have it disclosed by the candidate.
Does it help or hurt a candidate to self fund the majority of their race? I keep seeing Rick Scott ads, and his self funding, and it's been a huge turn off. All I see is his Medicare fraud and his claim he didn't know? Well, then how on earth is he going to know what's happening in the Governors office? That's just an example.
As a Dist. 8 voter and strong supporter of Katy, I'm a bit horrified at some of the candidates. So many of them seem to have come out of no where with agenda's not so transparent.
I'm not supporting anyone without a record of some type of service in this community, I don't care how much money they have or how much "party" help they get.
The party members can volunteer to help a candidate. They are not paid. The candiate has only to ask. I was working on a county commission race with two Democrats in it -- non partisan. The Democrats helped one -- they said "because she asked." I thought it f--ked up but apparently it is done.
What a classy lady to take the time out to try to help this group of candidates and all they do is swipe at each other.
Don't be out done by absentee vote industry (the fourth economic engine of Miami Dade County). As you walk those streets, tell your constituents how you might be out-maneuvered by busses that pull up to senior citizen centers or special "church" meetings (praise the Lord). Make sure they are mad enough to start their own email trees and to show up the day of voting to counterbalance those who pay to play.
Truth be told, we have a few good candidates in the race still. Hopefully the educated masses will have a larger voice than the monied ones.
I'm not buying the "learning curve"--I voted for Katy when she first ran for office because she WASN'T a politician but had worked hard in the community. "Learning curve" is code for "keep the career politicians who don't speak for the people"---I for one am going to take a long look at those who've never run for office or are not elected officials--We need people who know what it's like to work for a dollar not just raise it every 2 or 4 years.
re: the vote industry.
How come that has not been fixed? Can you not fix fixes?
Seriously though, how come something is not fixed when we can see there is a problem with the process?
my vote is mine --
You are right. Things are not fixed because the powers to be don't want them fixed. Then there are your random schemes that are good for a one-time-only pass. (Like rigging the machines to accept incomplete ballots strategically in certain counties during the race between Bush and Gore.) Who knows. WIth 67 different supervisors of elections, how could you possibly keep up with all the potential schemes. I can't believe Floridians stand for this.
Florida sleeps or parties then sleeps.
Not many actually think about what they hear or read during elections. You shouldn't base your vote on a chance door knock!
Voting is a responsibility and that takes education and research to make solid choices. So, Floridians get what they get because they are lazy voters.
The absentee ballot scandals are perfect examples of lazy voting or greed. Some people use the absentee ballot for the right reasons and others use it to corrupt the systems.
During the last budget cycle, Carlos Gimenez introduced motion after motion to rein in the bloated salaries in the county government. Gimenez sought to eliminate executive benefits and those outrageous luxury car allowances for directors. He also proposed progressive salary cuts so that the hundreds of County executives making over $100k, $200k, and $300k per year would take a bigger percentage cut than the secretaries making $40k/yr. Katy Sorenson voted against all of Gimenez's progressive pay cut motions. She also increased her own staff's salaries in 2009 (which were already too high) while employees who were not politically connected were laid off or received across the board pay cuts. So good riddance to Katy Sorenson... she was part of the problem.
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