A graduate of the Columbus Public Schools, Gene Pierce has been an active supporter of the Schools, but no project has been more rewarding than these two campaigns to create a new physical infrastructure for the Schools and to elect a more professional, less divisive school board and the passage of an important operating levy to support the schools’ academic progress.

Columbus Public Schools Bond Issue (2002): A $492 million bond issue campaign that won 54%-46%, in spite of a divided school board and a short, twelve week campaign.

We conducted a complete, multi-faceted campaign:

Media Relations: Pierce developed and executed a strategy that resulted in supportive editorials from central Ohio’s leading media outlets, and staged campaign events involving key leaders from every part of our community.

Market research and polling: We developed a baseline survey and tracking polls that gave our campaign the quantitative analysis that drove our campaign message, activities and targeted audiences.

Telephone and Direct Mail Contact: We targeted these activities according to market research results, demographic and geographic criteria to maximize our impact, and selected key political leaders according to their appeal to specific audiences.

Grassroots: We had a comprehensive yard sign and volunteer telephone campaign, to get our core group of supporters completely involved and visible. We also covered all community and campaign events with speakers appropriate to the audience, to create a personal face for the campaign message.

Television, Radio and Print Advertising: We coordinated a full array of advertising vehicles, using urban print and radio outlets to drive home our message to key audiences.

Four for Reform School Board Elections (2003):

Using many of the same techniques and activities, Pierce spearheaded the campaign for the Four for Reform team for the Columbus School Board. Three incumbents, Stephanie Hightower, Karen Schwarzwalder and Jeff Cabot, plus newcomer Terry Boyd successfully ran for the school board, displacing longtime, entrenched community activist Bill Moss.

Beating Bill Moss, whose electoral career spanned 25 years, was something many political observers said couldn’t be done. Pierce proved them wrong, however, with the help of great candidates, solid fundraising and perceptive polling – plus the ability to translate all of that into an effective strategy and persuasive ads.

Pierce provided media relations and strategic advice to the campaign, including planning and executing the Kick Off Rally, speeches, guest editorials and press events explaining the need for the funds.