Who This Course Is For

Aspiring and current local government officials including city councilors, town councilors, select board members, and school committee members. Also political candidates preparing to run for local office who want practical guidance from someone who actually did the job for 10 years.

How to decide if you should run (and the honest realities of the time commitment)

How to run a winning grassroots campaign with limited budget

How to set up effective systems in your first 100 days

How to handle constituent services (the daily work that builds trust)

How to understand and analyze municipal budgets

How to build coalitions with mayors, department heads, and colleagues

How to communicate effectively through newsletters, town halls, and social media

How to make principled decisions and cast unpopular votes when necessary

How to sustain long-term projects that take years to complete

About the Course

The Local Government Playbook is the course I wish existed when I first ran for city council in 2015. Over 10 video modules and a 100-page action workbook, you'll learn how to run a winning campaign, govern effectively, master the budget, build coalitions, handle constituent services, and know when to say no—even if you're the only one. Whether you're running for city council, town council, select board, or school committee, this playbook gives you the strategies, templates, and frameworks you need to serve with integrity and make a real difference in your community. This isn't theory from a political consultant who's never held office. This is real experience from someone who did the job for 10 years—the victories, the mistakes, the daily grind, and the moments that matter. No BS. No fluff. Just what actually works.

About the Instructor

Ian Cain served as Quincy City Councilor from 2016-2026 and City Council President from 2024-2025. Over his decade in office, he championed municipal broadband (a 7-year project that will serve residents for 50+ years), co-founded PorchFest Quincy (an annual community tradition), preserved open space at 0 Harriet Avenue, responded to every constituent request, and cast principled votes even when standing alone—including being one of the only "no" votes on a $475 million pension obligation bond. He built systems that outlasted his tenure, communicated consistently through quarterly newsletters, and left office with a comprehensive transition memo for his successor. This course distills everything he learned—the strategies that worked, the mistakes to avoid, and the daily realities nobody talks about.

Curriculum

12 Chapters · 16 Lessons

  1. 1

    Introduction

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to The Local Government Playbook

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Download Your Workbook

  2. 2

    Module 1 - Should You Run?

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Should You Run? Understanding the Real Commitment

  3. 3

    Module 2 - How to Campaign

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      How to Campaign: Door-Knocking, Fundraising, and Winning Local Elections

  4. 4

    Module 3 - Your First 100 Days

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Your First 100 Days: Setting Up Systems and Learning the Ropes

  5. 5

    Module 4 - Constituent Services

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Constituent Services: The Daily Work That Builds Trust

  6. 6

    Module 5 - Understanding the Budget

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Understanding the Budget: Policy is Budget, Budget is Policy

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Get the Budget Analysis Tools

  7. 7

    Module 6 - Building Coalitions

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Building Coalitions: Working with Executives, Department Heads, and Colleagues

  8. 8

    Module 7 - Communication Strategy

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Communication Strategy: Newsletters, Town Halls, and Social Media

  9. 9

    Module 8 - When to Say No

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      When to Say No: Fiscal Responsibility and Principled Votes

  10. 10

    Module 9 - Long-Term Projects

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Long-Term Projects: The 7-Year Municipal Broadband Journey

  11. 11

    Module 10 - Leaving a Legacy

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Leaving a Legacy: Documentation, Transition, and Knowing When to Go

  12. 12

    Conclusion

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      What's Next

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Share Your Achievement

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Ready for Personalized Strategy?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long do I have access? A: Lifetime access. Work at your own pace. Q: Is this for my specific type of office? A: Yes. The course covers city council, town council, select board, and school committee positions. Q: Do I need prior political experience? A: No. This course is designed for first-time candidates. Q: What if I'm already elected? A: Perfect. Modules 3-10 focus on governing effectively once you're in office.

Ready to Enhance Your Leadership Skills?

Enroll today to gain the knowledge and confidence to excel in local governance.

$297.00

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