Students run for "Mayor of Martin" to gain insight into how political campaigns work

By Jessica Brill

A group of students at Stonehill College are learning how to run an election campaign through a Political Campaigns course that concludes with a mock election.  

Maddie Millier and Jordan Bigda are running for the fictional “Mayor of Martin,” a campaign that mirrors what political campaigns in communities and states. The campaigns include communication, public outreach, strategizing, and organizing an efficient group structure. 

The campaign started when Professor Scott Ferson divided the class into two groups of 15 students. Each group has to select a representative to be the “face” and spokesperson of the group to mirror a side in a political debate. That elected representative has to decide what topic they want to address to have a “step ahead” on the other group.  

A Political Science major and Business Administration minor, Miller said she is learning about leadership through the process of the course. The mock election on December 3 will allow students to explore effective campaign strategies and experience special dynamics of political communication. 

Miller, who is also a member of the communication team, helps manage messaging, publicity and her “Endorse Campaign” pitch. Her work will focus on the goals she wants to achieve like strong outreach and connecting with the student body and faculty.  

Miller is involved in extracurriculars like Ruckus which is a popular dance team at Stonehill as well as the competitive dance team. She said she uses these opportunities to build relationships and expand the campaign campus-wide. 

During the campaign, Miller and Bigda, collaborated to choose a debate topic that would engage students and highlight campus issues.  

Miller said she strengthened her management and strategic planning abilities by finding a deeper understanding of what it means to represent and lead others. She described the project as an opportunity to “think outside the box” and apply creativity to real-world challenges.  

Political Science student Bigda said she brought both curiosity and determination to this semester’s Political Campaigns course. She said it will challenge students to experience the realities of running for office through a mock mayoral election.  

Bigda said she approached the project as a chance to understand the strategy and stress that come with being the public face of a campaign.   

The Political Campaign’s students heard from guest speakers and learned directly from their professor, who is part of a professional political consulting group. Bigda said these insights helped her and her team to apply real-world tactics to their campaigns. Bigda said the “hardest part was finding something that stuck.” 

Bigda said she used the campaign platform to raise awareness about working conditions for Stonehill food service members and custodians, emphasizing the importance of advocacy and social responsibility.  

Bigda stays active in campus life through the Stonehill Alumni Association, attending events such as reunion and homecoming to strengthen networking connections. Bigda is also a member of Mock Trial Club. She regularly develops case themes and theories, tools that she can use for the election. 

The experience also revealed the challenges of teamwork. Bigda said there can be moments of frustration when “people aren’t carrying their weight.”  

Bigda said she wants to go into the law field after Stonehill. She viewed the mock election as a meaningful test of leadership and emotional resilience. Experiencing the “emotions and stress of being the face of a campaign” provided insight not only into political life but also into the collaboration and persistence required for success in any professional field.         

A debate, moderated by Janet Wu of NBC was held Tuesday, October 28 at 4 p.m. at The Hill  in the lower commons at Stonehill. The election will be held on December 3 between 3 and 5 p.m.. Both parties of the campaign will be collecting votes around campus to determine a winner of the election and Mayor of Martin.