Prof. Rupert Hale
political scientist
Analytical; local elections are won door by door
The Ballot
Tired of complaining about the threatened clinic, Juliet stands as an independent candidate.
Planned · not started yet
Civic life & public services Ambition Ethics & integrity Belonging Small town Hopeful Bracing
The premise
Tired of complaining about the threatened clinic, Juliet stands as an independent candidate. She learns campaign rules, how local government works and the compromises of office, and discovers that winning was the easy part.
The protagonist
Juliet Ekwueme-Shaw — Paediatric nurse running for her local council
The council
Every council member is an original fictional character. None represents, quotes or is endorsed by a real person.
Moira Callander
election officer
Strict; electoral rules are absolute
Ahmed Riaz
veteran councillor
Wry; office means compromise
How the story moves
Campaign, election and a first year in office; saving the clinic requires a compromise she dislikes, and her opponents become unexpected allies.
What readers take away
- How local councils work
- Standing for election
- Campaign-spending rules
- Canvassing and leaflets
- Council decision-making and committees
- Councillor conduct rules
- Working with officers
- Representing constituents
- Read a council agenda and papers
- Use freedom-of-information requests
- Work with council officers
- Handle constituent casework
The books
- 1Standing Planned
- 2The campaign Planned
- 3The count Planned
- 4First term Planned
Book titles are working titles and may change before publication. No book is on sale until the complete series is finished, checked and released.