Candidate Training Program

Congratulations to the members of the Candidate Training Program Class of Winter 2010, which graduated this past weekend! Click here or the photo at left for the main alumni page.

This morning's edition of the Staunton News Leader spotlights the success of Sorensen graduates in the recent elections.

The University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership offers two political training programs to those interested in becoming more active in public service in Virginia – be they Republicans, Democrats or independents. In the wake of Tuesday's elections, it's clear that the programs are working.

Click here for the full article.

The Sorensen Institute's Candidate Training Program was founded in 1999 to teach aspiring political candidates in Virginia the fundamentals of a winning campaign for office. Participants explore the nuts and bolts of building a strong campaign from the ground up—all within the context of ethics and principled public service.

In this, its 10th anniversary year, the CTP celebrates a particularly impressive achievement. A total of seven CTP graduates of the 2009 program alone were elected to office this year: 2 to city council, 1 as sheriff, and a whopping 4 to the Virginia General Assembly: 3 Republicans, 3 Democrats, and 1 Independent.

Of the four CTP 09 alumni who were elected to the GA, 2 are Republicans and 2 are Democrats. All of them were brand-new to state-level campaign politics.

We can say without any equivocation that the Sorensen Institute's Candidate Training Program is one of the very best programs of its kind in the world.

The 2010 Candidate Training Program is now accepting applications. Click here for more information.

Today the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership began accepting applications to its Political Leaders Program Class of 2010 as well as its Candidate Training Program Class of 2010.

Applications are available online. The deadline will be 5pm on Monday, November 9.

The Candidate Training Program Class of 2010 will be held January 28-31 at historic Carter Hall in Millwood, Virginia.. This is an intensive, four-day program focused on the fundamentals of a winning campaign for elected office. Participants explore the nuts and bolts of building a strong campaign from the ground up—all within the context of ethics and principled public service. Members of the class will enjoy the benefit of meeting with and learning from a host of experienced campaign advisors.  Click here to learn more about the CTP 2010 and for links to the online application.

Sorensen's flagship Political Leaders Program is a leadership development program for residents of Virginia interested in becoming more active in public service, whether as community leaders or as elected officials. Participation in this program has become a traditional "first step" for future political leaders in the Commonwealth. The class meets in various locations across Virginia, once a month for 10 months from March through December. Click here to learn more and to access the online application.

The Sorensen Institute relies on its alumni to help us identify prospective participants for the 2010 programs and encourage them to apply.

The Sorensen Institute will host a series of recruiting receptions throughout Virginia in the coming weeks. These receptions offer a wonderful opportunity for prospective applicants to meet with staff, alumni, and board members to learn more about our Political Leaders and Candidate Training 2010 Programs. Alumni are encouraged to bring applicants to these receptions. The Sorensen Institute relies on the willingness of its alumni to help us recruit next year's classes. RSVPs are not required but will be very much appreciated. Please contact our Recruiting Coordinator April Auger at 434-243-2470,  april.auger@virginia.edu.

Recruiting receptions for the 2010 Political Leaders and Candidate Training Programs are scheduled as follows (click links for locations and directions):

September 10th— Lunch reception at Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon.
Time: 12 noon.

October 5th— Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Time: 5pm

October 12th— Breakfast reception at the Virginia Discovery Museum in Charlottesville.
Time: 8am

October 13th— Riverviews Artspace in Lynchburg.
Time: 5pm

October 20th— Harrisonburg Reception (location TBA)
Time: 6pm

For more information contact April Auger at 434-243-2470,  april.auger@virginia.edu.
 

From the Sorensen Archives comes this public radio story about our Candidate Training Program. Produced in 2007 and broadcast statewide on With Good Reason, this story— one of the very best ever produced about a Sorensen program— explores the history and mission of our nationally recognized CTP. The Sorensen Institute will host the Spring 2009 class of our Candidate Training Program this coming Thursday May 14 through Sunday May 15 at historic Carter Hall in Millwood.

Executive Director Bob Gibson recently sent this email to our alumni:

I write with exciting news: due to overwhelming demand and a generous grant from the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, we are able to offer the Candidate Training Program for a second time in 2009.  With the number of individuals running for office for the first time in 2009 we know that there are those who would benefit from this program but were unable to join us in January.

The Spring Candidate Training Program will take place from May 14-17 at historic Carter Hall in Millwood, Virginia in eastern Clarke County.  We are very excited to be able to offer this program at another historic venue and in Northern Virginia.

If you or someone you know is planning to run for office this year or thinking about running in the near future, please encourage them to apply.

Click here to learn more and to access our online application for the Spring 2009 class of the Candidate Training Program.

Congratulations to the Candidate Training Program Class of 2009, which celebrated its graduation from the Sorensen Institute yesterday, completing a four-day program.

We are also very proud to report that this was the tenth anniversary of classes in our Candidate Training Program, which began in 1999 with a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The program has since become a national model, has been replicated in many states, and is this year the subject of a PhD dissertation.

Of the 212 graduates of the Candidate Training Program since 1999, 60 have served in elected office around the Commonwealth, including one in the Virginia State Senate and seven in the Virginia House of Delegates; 24 have been appointed to state boards and commissions.

The Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership is proud to announce those Virginians that have been accepted to participate in the Candidate Training Program Class of 2009.

The Candidate Training Program (CTP) is an intensive, four-day program focused on the fundamentals of a winning campaign for office. Participants explore the nuts and bolts of building a strong campaign from the ground up—all within the context of ethics and principled public service. The curriculum does not prescribe a particular set of campaign guidelines or rules, but does provide candidates with a framework for developing their own code of conduct to run a winning and ethical campaign. Participants in the program represent  a broad range of ideologies and a diversity of communities from throughout Virginia. The Sorensen Institute's CTP was first offered in 1999 with support from a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts, and has since become a national model.

Of the 212 graduates of the Candidate Training Program since 1999, 60 have served in elected office around the Commonwealth, including one in the Virginia State Senate and seven in the Virginia House of Delegates; 24 have been appointed to state boards and commissions.

The Candidate Training Program Class of 2009 will be held January 22-25 at James Madison's Montpelier in Orange County.

The members of the Candidate Training Program Class of 2009 are:

Richard Anderson, Woodbridge
Thomas Bellanca, Aldie
Saundra Cherry, Newport News
Thelbert Childress, Danville
Steve Cochran, Blacksburg        
Suzanne Creasey, Williamsburg
Samuel Eure. Yorktown
Francis Fannon, Alexandria
Thomas Greason, Ashburn
Jason Greenwood, Fredericksburg
Alicia Hughes, Alexandria         
Kaye Kory, Falls Church
Joseph Lee, Roanoke
John Lesinski, Washington
Ronald Mitchell, Falls Church        
Jeffrey Price, Madison Heights
Joshua Prueher, Virginia Beach
Kala Quintana, Burke
Bryan Rhode, Crozier