After dismal voter turnout in Douglas County and the state for the August primary election, area civic leaders are trying to spark the public’s interest in getting more involved in political campaigns.

As part of that effort, a Community Campaign School will be offered from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. It’s organized by Leadership Lawrence, the city, county and school district.

The educational forum is a follow-up to the Community Candidate School in 2004. But this time the event also will focus on how to be involved in campaigns without necessarily being the candidate. The school also will offer tips for would-be campaign managers and workers.

“It’s not just the individual whose name is on the ballot who makes the campaign happen,” said Lisa Patterson, a member of the organizing committee.

The event will include a presentation by Hank Booth, station manager of KLZR FM-105.9 and KLWN AM-1320; a display of ethics exercises from the Kansas Health Foundation; briefings on the workings of local government; and a forum on the nuts and bolts of running for office.

“There is expectation that the room will be filled with lots of people who are not considering running for office themselves,” Patterson said. “The room will be filled with people who want to get involved with their community, and they realize that local government is the place to start with that involvement.”

Mark Joslyn, an associate professor of political science at Kansas University, said voter and campaign apathy tended to fluctuate between midterm and presidential election years. One of the more dangerous trends is low turnout and involvement among younger voters, he said.

During the August primary election, the state turnout was 18 percent, while Douglas County’s was 12 percent.

Overall, the game of politics has changed somewhat in the last 10 years, particularly in higher-profile races, Joslyn said. And those changes might discourage some people from running.

“Campaigning is more directed at personal issues. People are less willing to be attacked,” Joslyn said.

In state or local races, it generally takes an economic crisis or a political change for a new wave of candidates to try to overthrow incumbents, he said.