Hear from our Graduates
In just a few years, our alumni are already off and running with nine people serving the community they love in elected office. We are hopeful that this group of graduates will become a valuable resource to our participants as our curriculum adapts in the years ahead. Meet a few of our alumni in office.
Graduated in 2019 / Elected in 2020
“When I first considered running for office, I had a goal of making a difference and having impact in my community, but not a lot of foundational knowledge about how I could succeed at making that happen.
The Build the Bench program was an in-depth look at just about every aspect of campaigning; from how to plan a realistic budget to how to format the most impactful and engaging marketing videos. One year later, when I launched my campaign, I pulled out my binder of materials and personalized a good portion of the practices to fit my specific race. I highly recommend this program!”
Graduated in 2017 / Elected in 2020
“Taking the leap and running for office is often intimidating. As Solano County’s first scholarship recipient to the Build the Bench program, it was an honor to be selected and participate in such a comprehensive and informative training series. I had always contemplated running for office, but the program provided me with a baseline understanding of local politics and how to run an effective campaign. ”
Graduated in 2017 / Re-elected in 2020
“Not really knowing much about campaigning, Build the Bench really helped me connect the dots and run a more efficient campaign. The classes were also very insightful and well put together. I met some really talented people who shared their expertise with us, which in turn, I was able to use in my campaign and ultimately a successful victory.”
