Fighting Against the Party-Line Vote: A Campaign Victory Story

In local politics, the reality is stark – down-ballot races often fall victim to party-line voting, especially for specialized positions like Recorder of Deeds. Fred Sheeler, a former Recorder for Berks County, Pennsylvania, knew he needed to transcend partisan politics to regain his office. As a Democrat in a Republican-leaning county, Fred needed a strategic approach that would connect with voters on a personal level. That's where our team stepped in with a laser-focused campaign strategy built on nostalgia, education, and authentic storytelling.

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Members / roles

Fred Sheeler, Recorder of Deeds / Client

Facebook / Platform

WeVideo / Videography

Our Contribution

Project Management, Copywriting, Graphic Design, Videography

Launched
2024

Project Backstory, Details, and Results

Fred Sheeler approached us with a challenge: win back the Recorder of Deeds office he had previously lost during an election cycle with significant pushback against the Democratic party. Fred understood that his defeat wasn't about his qualifications – it was about party-line voting in a local office that many voters know little about.

Armed with voting metrics from both his initial win and subsequent loss, we crafted a two-pronged strategy: build name recognition while educating voters about the critical functions of the Recorder's office – documenting property ownership, promoting economic development, and safeguarding public trust.

Rather than pursuing expensive broad-reaching campaigns, we took the time to understand Fred's passion for the role and created a targeted approach. By securing endorsements from established Berks County figures who were willing to reach across party lines, and developing a distinctive visual identity, we helped Fred's authentic message resonate with voters who might otherwise default to party-line voting.

The outcome? Fred Sheeler successfully regained his office as the only Democrat elected in Berks County during a year of Republican momentum – proof that his expertise and passion truly transcended partisan politics.

Learn More about the Creative Process

When developing Fred's campaign visuals, we knew we needed to break through the typical political advertisement clutter – the patriotic colors, forced smiles, and stock images of handshakes. Understanding our target demographic (voters 40+), we leveraged nostalgia by creating baseball card-style advertisements.

This unique format not only helped Fred stand out from other candidates but provided a familiar and engaging way to present his qualifications – swapping career batting averages for education and professional affiliations. It created immediate visual recognition while appealing directly to our target voters.

Facebook became our primary outreach platform, combining these distinctive static images with compelling video content. By focusing our resources on targeted social media rather than expensive television spots, we maximized impact where it mattered most.

The key to success? Taking the time to listen. While another marketing company had suggested a more expensive broad campaign, our approach was driven by Fred's passion and supported by hard voting data. This allowed us to create a hyper-targeted strategy that spoke directly to the voters who would ultimately determine the election outcome.

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