It's not just another town.Sitting within the shadow of America's birthplace it has continued to grow and prosper while some other Philadelphia suburbs have withered. It has always benefited from its prime location and has long since supplanted the City of Camden as the largest community in Camden County, NJ. Today, it is the undisputed business and commercial center of South Jersey.
But in some ways it's no different from troublesome urban centers like Trenton and Newark. Because, it's been 41 years since any Republican was elected to local office in Cherry Hill. Forty one long years!
Now, progressive Democrats on one side and a "new" Cherry Hill Republican Party on the other, have set out to challenge the entrenched Democrat machine that has controlled the town and the county for decades.
We've already offered five big suggestions for the new leaders of the local GOP but that's not enough. So, here are five more:
1) If all politics really are local (and it's hard to argue with that mantra) then start by building a grassroots army, neighborhood by neighborhood and street by street. Do the math. Check the voting results from recent elections and begin in the neighborhood that gives you your most votes. Start where you are strongest and build from there.
2) Get people involved by soliciting their opinions. Give them a stake in their own future. Take a poll to see what voters are concerned about -- what they're worried about; what keeps them up at night. It's easier than ever to set up a survey, especially online. Do it and pay attention to the results.
3) Seize upon an issue. Armed with the facts, go after the one issue where you feel you have the best chance to win over voters. You may glean that from the survey or, if you're lucky, an issue may drop into your hands right out of the headlines. However it may happen, be alert, make that issue yours and ride it home.
4) Find a sugar daddy. Sure, money can be raised fairly quickly in small donations online and that needs to be part of any funding effort. But there's bound to be a businessperson or well-heeled, civic-minded hotshot who's been thinking about getting involved as well -- maybe someone who's disgruntled or feels left out of or mistreated by the regime in power. Bingo! There's your opportunity!
5) Votes are won by adding, not subtracting. Put personalities aside and banish petty squabbles. Keep your eyes on the prize and welcome everyone. You're too puny to be picky.
