I've been asked to repeat my list that gives $10,000 worth of political advice for free. I originally posted it on June 5. Here it is again:

Here are my 10 basic rules of campaigning. Political consultants will charge you a fortune for these tips. You get them for free because you read our Opinion Talk blog.

1 -- Be able to say in 30 seconds why you are running. I'm stunned when candidates come into The Bee for editorial board meetings and go silent when we ask why they are running. It's as if they have never thought about this obvious question? And don't say you're running to "give something back." That's a given. Give me a succinct 30 seconds that tells me you really understand what your candidacy is about. Show me that you know what you stand for. If you can't do that, don't run.

2 -- Don't rely on political advice from your friends, family or special interests who won't give you a straight answer. I'd go talk to Dan Pessano. His Good Company Players audiences are the people who will get you elected. Pessano knows how to connect with an audience, and about 90% of getting elected is show business anyway. Pessano is a great coach. I'd tie him up before my opponent does.

3 -- If you're lazy don't run. You better be willing to walk precincts every day, no matter how much money you have to spend or how many endorsements you've collected. Connect with voters on their doorsteps. It will make you a better candidate and make you a better mayor if you actually get elected. Walking precincts is hard work. The lazy candidates don't want to walk. You'll know them by their whining about walking precincts.

4 -- Start your campaign early. The June 2008 primary is exactly a year away. If you haven't already done the preliminary campaign work, including putting together a fund-raising operation and lining up key supporters, you're starting too late.

5 -- Do a background check on yourself using public records and Internet search engines. Have you ever been sued or filed for bankruptcy? You better be able to explain that to voters. And don't think something won't come out because it happened 15 years ago. Your opponents have probably already started Googling you. You just don't know it yet. Opposition research is part of the game, even if we'd all rather that elections be conducted on a higher level.

6 -- Take the 10 top issues facing Fresno and write position papers on each to hand out to the media, supporters and at public forums. It shows that you've thought about the issues and can commit your positions to writing. I'm impressed by candidates who have position papers on the major issues. That takes discipline.

7 -- Understand Fresno's modified strong-mayor form of government. Know what you can and can't do in this system. That will keep you from over-promising when you're on the campaign trail. If you don't understand how City Hall works, how can you expect to be effective?

8 -- Show me in your work, home life or civic activities how you have handled a crisis or problem in a way that gives me confidence that you will be a mayor who takes the right action when major challenges occur. Will you wilt under pressure, or will you be a mayor who will calmly and professionally lead the city through a crisis?

9 -- Show that you have a passion for the job. If you're running because you're bored with your life, don't waste your time or the voters' time.

10 -- Have fun. The campaign will be long and at times miserable. It wil be a lot easier to get through it successfully if you have a sense of humor.