There are hundreds of wonderful consultants from which to choose. Your biggest challenge is selecting the ones that will be best for you. Keep these things in mind when you do:

1. A campaign is a very simple process. A good consultant keeps it that way. Be suspicious of complex-sound-ing proposals.
2. Be cristal clear abaut fees and expenses. Define clearly what you expenses(e.g.,photo copies, telephone, etc.) will be.
3. Gret a list of all the firm’s total and past cients to make sure there is no potential conflict of interest.
4. Find out how many campaigns the firm will handle, and ask about availability and responsiveness.
5. Find out how in the firm you will be working with on a daily basis.
6. Does the consultant pay or accept commissions, finders’ fees or other indirect income?
7. Be sure to talking with the firm’s losing candidates and campaign managers from the previous cycle.
8. Beware of consultants with a history of embarrassing clients either before or after and election. If it happened to them, it cam happen to you.
9. Don’t hesitate to bargain. We are business people and are used to negotiating.
10. Above all, trust your instincts. Chemistry is everything in a successful relationship. After all, when it’s late October and both you and the consultant are exhausted, who do you want to hear the bad news from?

-Gary Nordlinger is president of Nordlinger & Associates.