The 2016 presidential race was seen as one of the dirtiest in American history and the 2020 race is not shaping up to be much better. In response, we are announcing the launch of an ethical campaign movement with the publishing of Campaign Ethics: A Field Guide, a non-partisan, how-to book for candidates and political consultants on how to run an ethical campaign.
The purpose of this field guide, available for free download on the Center website and for purchase as a paperback on Amazon, is to provide tips and advice on how to run an ethical political campaign in order to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and the trust of the people in those who would govern. The book covers the primary areas in which campaign leaders will likely have to make ethical choices and provides nuts and bolts advice on how to create an ethical campaign organization. A copy of the field guide has been delivered to every candidate in the 2020 presidential race.
“Campaign Ethics: A Field Guide offers pragmatic advice for candidates for avoiding any ethical problems in their campaigns,” said Tom Campbell, former five-term Silicon Valley Congressman. “Campaigns that don't follow the book’s clear advice will be asked by editorial boards and voters why they haven't.”
“The name calling and mudslinging from recent campaigns have left many disgusted, frustrated and turned off from civic engagement,” noted Hana Callaghan, guide creator and director of the Center’s Government Ethics program. “How can we take back our political process and reign in the bad behavior on the campaign trail? We need to start an ethical campaign movement and let politicians know that we, the voters, want them to conduct civil and ethical campaigns."
Callaghan has a background in law, government and politics. She has worked in private practice as a corporate litigator, for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives as a senior congressional aide, and as a political consultant managing statewide political campaigns. In addition, she has served as the associate executive director of the Santa Clara County Bar Association where she had oversight of continuing legal education programs.
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Get the Book: bit.ly/campaignethics
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