I'm considering starting a political consulting firm focusing on field/voter contact/targeting. I'm trying to figure out where would be the best place to do so. The idea is that I would move to that place and spend 2009 and 2010 working (on salary, probably not as a consultant) for a campaign or two before taking on clients as a consultant. I already have 7 years of experience working in politics and a very deep knowledge base in this area of politics, but this would be a way to develop local credibility and networks in that state. I would also pursue clients outside of that state, but I need a "home base."
Here's what I'm looking for:
Most important:
1. Low-ish cost of living (one can get a decent 1BR with room for a home office for less than $800/month) so I don't go broke while I'm building my business.
2. In a swing state, preferably one where the Democrats are on the upswing in-state (say, a former red state where Dems are gathering strength, like VA, CO, NM, IA, NH), where the Dem party establishment is, well, not that established and thus where I could find a niche within a few years.
3. As a corollary to #2, a place where there isn't a super-strong Democratic "machine" in place (it can be harder to break into such places, although they can also offer a lot of opportunities).
Important, but more negotiable:
4. A "nice" place to live. ie, someplace where I could live in walking distance to a coffee shop and some local restaurants, and maybe a farmers' market, where town/city life has more to offer than the local Applebee's.
5. Perhaps as a corrollary, a place with a decent population of creative, interesting, non-married, non-sprogged-up people in their 20s and early 30s. Nothing against families, but I'm single and I'd rather not live in a place where everyone over 25 is married with kids.
6. Friendly environment to small-business owners and freelancers.
7. Northeast is best, since that's where my family is, but I'm flexible on this. Living in the northwest or the Rockies is intriguing.
8. I hatehatehate super-humid summers, so the South is probably out. Winters don't bother me.
9. Outdoor opportunities, but I figure I can get this almost anywhere.
I realize this is a big list, and I'm unlikely to find one place that meets all the criteria, but I'm willing to compromise. A few places I've thought of are Colorado (Denver), New Mexico, Oregon, Washington, Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh) and New Hampshire, all of which have some, but not all of the criteria. (Sadly, I don't think
New York City fits enough of these criteria, but by all means, if you know something I don't, let me know!)
Ideas? Is your home state perfect, or should I avoid it?
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It's the state capital, a pretty gorgeous corner of the country, its own history and flavor, apparently not crazy expensive to inhabit (one bedrooms in your price range), four seasons, and at the northern end of a relatively small region holding a sizeable majority of New Mexico's people (can't find any numbers, but maybe 70-80%?). You'd probably have to get down to Albuquerque a lot, but if you have a car, it's an hour, and they're building a commuter rail system to link the two cities. And if you move down there, do what we did when we moved out west: entice all the Northeast people to move out there too!
posted by mdonley at 5:09 PM on August 21, 2008