MAtt Knickerbocker Notes

• Knickerbocker got involved when he noticed issues with public education as his kids started to go to school
• He served on the Board of Education for 10 years
• Currently, he is the first selectman of Bethel, which is like the town manager
• New England is the only area of the country that has first selectmen, as it started as a church affiliated position and then became disassociated
• Local politics is more focused on policy, which is why Knickerbocker enjoys it
• Find a topic we like, go to meetings, and talk about why its important at a local level, very similar to what Volpe said
• Anything can be a political issue
• There is a negative association between the government and society’s problems, and our involvement with the government
• Working in local politics means you need to have a relationship with the media
• That relationship is important and understanding your local journalists may also help
• Look at local newspapers and see who is reporting the news and learn about current policies being discussed