Humble Beginnings
Red County built it's online reputation through the hard work of Matthew Cunningham, founder of the original OC Blog. Matt is an experienced Orange County politico and gained respect for his understanding of the issues and his straightforward approach to writing about them. As Online Editor, he recruited a "blogpen" of capable contributors who collectively offered a depth of knowledge and expertise of the local political landscape that was unparalleled. They posted regularly and engaged their readers.

The results have been impressive. In short time, Red County has become the "go to" political website in it's community and is a highly respected bastion of spirited political discussion. From community leaders, business leaders, and elected officials to big donors, bureaucrats, activists, and political enthusiasts, Red County enjoys an increasing measure of real political influence throughout the the community.

Beyond the Borders of Our Community
The success of the OC Blog model is due in large part to the depth knowledge of each of its contributors. Red County intends to build on this success by identifying local players in communities across the country who offer their own high levels expertise, writing talent, and passion for local politics. These players will be offered "communities" about which they are expert. They will identify their trusted contributors and will choose the topics and set the tone. Ultimately, those who are fair and responsible; those who offer a level of insight not available by reading the local paper will find its audience.

As an example, earlier this year we identified several talented politicos in San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Placer counties. Blogs were developed by Red County and nurtured by the local editors who knew the issues, knew the players, and were able to recruit a stable of capable blogpen members. Slowly, these Red County blogs are building a following and expanding their influence.

What is a Community?
A community can be defined in a number of ways. For purposes of political analysis in Southern California, community is usually best defined by county. However, we recognize this may not be true for other areas of the country. In some locales, a Red County community will be defined by a city, a region, a campus, or even a state.

The term community could also be defined by an issue rather than a geographic region. For example, a group of legal experts could offer insight on the law as it relates to political issues and center-right politics that could justify a Red County community of its own. Such possibilities are limitless and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

In the end, it is you, the local expert who will help us determine how to best define your local community.

Minimum Requirements
Integrity, honesty, and character.
Political values that fall somewhere on the right side of the political spectrum.
A measure of expertise in your local community.
A willingness to regularly contribute posts.
A capacity to engage in spirited, but respectful debate.
Enthusiasm for the political process.

What Next?
Contact us at editors@redcounty.com. Make your case and start a dialogue. We truly look forward to hearing from.