small-town: (adj.) relating to or characteristic of a small town, especially as considered to be unsophisticated or petty. -- In: Oxford Languages Dictionary and Google.

What are some important aspects of small-town politics?
(Based on a discussion thread on Quora).

"... small town politics doesn’t always break down on traditional left-right or partisan lines. Some of those I have locked horns with the most in politics in my small city are people who have the same party ID I do, but who see local issues very differently. Neighborhoods vs. city as a whole is a common fault line at the local level. Personalities and family connections are big, too." (James P. Melcher)

"the likleyhood of you as a local politician will meet, and know on a personal level, your voters and the people who voted fo another candidate when you're out buying groceries, or when you're at the pub, restaurant or wherever, is near certain. You can't really escape from the people whom you represent.

... a small town will likely be heavily dependent on one or maybe two large employers or a single sector of multiple businesses employing a large portion of the populace. It's a fine line to walk trying to keep the large business going strong, diversifying the local economy and keeping the large busniesses from dictating the terms." (Samual Henriksson)

"... It’s much easier to be a big fish in a small pond. (...) It’s hard for outsiders to be accepted by small town politics. The town has likely developed a subculture that is unique and hard to penetrate. (Francis Chen)

"They all revolve around the fact of the smallness of everything concerned. (...) The larger world is only distantly sensed and/or interacted with. More often then (sic) not with no special attempts made at open-mindedness or objectivity. This last (sic) especially when small town political sensibilities come into play, in voting on political issues affecting larger regions & urban areas." (John Penturn)

Source: https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-important-aspects-of-sma...