In America, the word "politics" largely refers to electoral politics - and very few elections, at that. The spotlight shines brightly on the presidency and a handful of other state and congressional elections, but we mostly ignore the vast majority of America's more than 500,000 elected offices: offices with titles like selectman, county clerk and counci !member. These positions might not make the front page of the New York Times, but they do play a crucial role in the lives of local residents.

For the New Organizing Institute (NOI), they're an opportunity. As the group puts it, we've got "500,000 ways to influence whether government serves the 99% or just the 1%," and we ought to use them.

So NO) has launched the Candidate Project, which aims to recruit thousands of progressives across the country to run for positions on school boards, city councils, and dozens of other offices. To make sure that even political neophytes can run an effective campaign, NOI gives newly-minted candidates extensive training and support.

So far, NOI and the progressive organizations supporting this effort have found more than 7,000 people willing to take government into their own hands. To become one of them orto learn more, visit candidateproject.org.

-DANIEL HERTZ