Brian K. Arbour
Office Address: Home Address:
John Jay College, City University of New York 1223 Bloomfield St.
Department of Government Hoboken, NJ 07030
445 West 59th St. (201) 239-0047
New York, NY 10019 barbour@jjay.cuny.edu
(646) 557-4616
Education
Ph.D. August 2007; Government, University of Texas at Austin.
M.A. August 2004; Government, University of Texas at Austin.
B.A. May 1995; Politics, Pomona College.
Publications
“Information Costs and Voter Turnout in the 2003 California Recall Election.” With Danny Hayes. March 2005. American Politics Research. 33(2): 187-215.
“Tempus Fugit: How Legislative Candidates Allocate Their Own Time.” Journal of Political Marketing. January 2006. 5(1/2) 79-104. Co-Published in Campaigns and Political Marketing. Wayne P. Steger, Sean Q. Kelly, and J. Mark Wrighton, eds. Haworth Press, Inc.
“Cracking Back: The Effectiveness of Partisan Redistricting in the 2002 Texas State House.” With Seth C. McKee. Winter 2006. American Review of Politics. 26(2): 385-404.
“Divisive Primaries and General Election Fund Raising: Not All Experiences Are the Same.” With Mark Jonathan McKenzie. Invited to revise and re-submit by American Politics Research.
Academic Experience
Assistant Professor, Department of Government, City University of New York—John Jay College, Fall 2007
Courses Taught: Introduction to American Government, Political Parties and Pressure Groups
Assistant Instructor, Department of Government, University of Texas at Austin, Summer 2007
Course Taught: Introduction to American and Texas Government
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Government, Austin Community College, Summer 2004-Summer 2007.
Courses Taught: Introduction to American Government, Texas State and Local Government
Teaching Assistant, Department of Government, University of Texas
Introduction to American Government, various professors
The American Presidency, Bruce Buchanan, Summer 2003
US Congress, Sean Theriault, Spring 2004
Texas Political History, James Enelow, Summer 2004
Political Psychology, John Sides, Fall 2004
Campaigns & the Media, Matthew Dowd, Spring 2005
Public Choice, Brian Roberts, Fall 2005
Campaigns & Elections, Daron Shaw, Spring 2006
Working Paper
“Campaigning in the Past Tense: How Campaigns Use Background Appeals to Develop Credibility.” In preparation for submission to the Journal of Communication.
Dissertation
Title: Résumé Politics: How Campaigns Use Background Appeals to Win Votes and Elections
Committee: Daron R. Shaw (Chair), John Sides, Brian Roberts, Sharon Jarvis, Roderick Hart
Academic Awards
Winner, Joe Long Fellowship, 2006-07 Academic Year
Winner, University Continuing Tuition Fellowship, 2006-07 Academic Year
Winner, McDonald Research Fellowship, Summer 2005
Winner, Patterson Fellowship, Travel Grant for Conference Participation
Spring 2002; Fall 2003; Spring 2004; Spring 2005; Fall 2005
Nominee, Alan Saxe Award, Best Paper in State and Local Politics
Southwest Political Science Association, 2004.
Selected Conference Participation
“One Thing I’ve Learned…: An Experimental Test of Background Appeals,” paper to be presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 12-15, 2007
“You Are the Message: How Political Consultants Use Candidate Background,” paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, January 4-7, 2007
“Why Experience Makes the Difference: Candidate Record as a Source of Candidate Credibility,” paper presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, August 31-September 3, 2006.
“Experience That You Can Count On: Candidate Record as a Source of Candidate Credibility,” paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, IL, April 20-23, 2006.
“Turning Purple? How Blue Candidates Deal With Red States, and Vice Versa,” with Laura Barbarena & Ernest McGowen; paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, IL, April 20-23, 2006.
“What Have You Done for Me Previously: Candidate Records as Credibility Building Mechanisms,” paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Conference, Atlanta, GA, January 5-7, 2006.
“Messages, Issues, and Experience: How Campaigns Use the Candidates’ Records to Win Votes,” paper presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, September 1-4, 2005.
“My Candidate’s Record Can Beat Up Your Candidate’s Record: An Examination of Candidate Record Use in Campaign Advertising,” paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, IL, April 7-10, 2005.
“Résumé Politics: How Political Campaigns Discuss Candidate Records in Television Advertising,” paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association Conference, New Orleans, LA, January 8-10, 2005.
“Angry? or Just Better Informed?: An Analysis of Voter Turnout in the 2003 California Recall,” with Danny Hayes; paper presented at Midwest Political Science Association Conference, Chicago, IL, April 15-18, 2004.
“The Impact of Redistricting on Party Competition: Analysis of the Texas State House,” with Seth C. McKee; paper presented at the Symposium on Southern Politics, Charleston, SC, March 4-6, 2004.
“Tempus Fugit: How Legislative Candidates Use Their Own Time as a Strategic Resource,” paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association’s Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 3-6, 2003.
“Battle Tested Campaigns: How Primary Divisiveness Impacts General Election Fund Raising,” with Mark Jonathan McKenzie, paper presented at the Southern Political Science Association’s Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA, November 6-9, 2002.
“How Primary Divisiveness Impacts General Election Fund Raising,” with Mark Jonathan McKenzie, paper presented at the Midwest Political Science Association’s Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, April 25-28, 2002.
Other Publications
“Direct Mail” In Larry J. Sabato and Howard R. Ernst, eds., Encyclopedia of American Parties and Elections. 2006. New York: Facts on File.
“Campaign Consultant.” With Chapman Rackaway. In Larry J. Sabato and Howard R. Ernst, eds., Encyclopedia of American Parties and Elections. 2006. New York: Facts on File.
Professional Service
Discussant
“Campaign Effects and Targeting Voters” Panel, Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago, IL, April 12-15, 2007.
“Mobilization and Turnout” Panel, Southern Political Science Association, New Orleans, LA, January 3-7, 2007.
“Strategic Use of the Media in American Politics” Panel, Southwest Social Science Association Conference, New Orleans, LA, March 23-26, 2005.
“Issue Knowledge, Policy Preference, and Electoral Choice” Panel, Southwest Social Science Association Conference, Corpus Christi, TX, March 18-20, 2004.
Referee
Journal of Politics
American Politics Research
American Review of Politics
Co-President, Graduate Student Organization, Government Department, University of Texas at Austin. 2004-2005.
Related Experience
Member, Decision Desk Staff, Fox News, November 2004; November 2006.
Worked with Fox News personnel to interpret exit poll returns and call elections.
Co-Director, University of Texas Module, Combined Congressional Elections Survey, Fall 2006.
Co-authored survey instrument for internet survey.
Campaign Staffer and Political Consultant, 1995-2000.
Developed campaign messages; implemented voter mobilization programs.
DNC Campaign Academy; Field Directors Track, 1996; Campaign Managers Track, 1998.
Learned campaign planning and coordination from political consultants.
Professional Affiliations
American Political Science Association
Midwest Political Science Association
Southern Political Science Association
Southwest Social Science Association