TARMIYAH, Iraq — Marketing isn’t exactly synonymous with democracy.

Cynics often dismiss local government’s attempts to win support for pet projects with dirty words like "lobbying," "special interest" or, worst of all, "pork."

Those cynics would undoubtedly have recognized the Tarmiyah Reconstruction Expo that took place Wednesday in this small city just north of Taji. Local leaders unabashedly pressed the flesh at Tarmiyah’s meeting hall to entice government spending into the area.

But such events are hardly the norm in a country that has long depended on American money. Many — probably most — Iraqis instinctively turn to the United States for help with their projects. That has been especially true in Sunni areas like Tarmiyah, which often felt neglected by Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government. In the past, no one would have tried to win over Baghdad, for the simple fact that it would have done little good.

Tarmiyah’s expo suggests that is changing, though.

The city’s efforts to market itself to Baghdad officials showcases an evolving relationship with the Iraqi government that points toward the self-sufficiency and democracy that American soldiers have been working so hard to develop across the country.

The expo’s theme — "Where we were, where we are and where we want to be" — gave a clear look at this evolution. Tarmiyah was in a downright dreadful state. Insurgents controlled the town. Al-Qaida executed people in the street. Government officials wouldn’t visit.

Tarmiyah is in a much improved situation. The Iraqis and the Americans have poured millions into the city. "Sons of Iraq" and American soldiers have decimated insurgent cells. The expo is in many ways a well-deserved party to celebrate Tarmiyah’s emergence from chaos.

But Tarmiyah leaders want to continue to grow, and they’ve decided to rely on the Iraqi government to get where they want to be.

"They very much recognize the way ahead here — tapping into the government of Iraq," said Col. Todd McCaffrey, commander of the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, the American brigade responsible for the area.

While the Americans provided significant assistance, the idea for the expo originated with Tarmiyah’s qada council, similar to a county commission in the United States. Local leaders and the Americans spent weeks organizing the event and inviting key Baghad leaders, most of whom once refused to step foot in the war-torn city.

The marketing message throughout the preparations focused on the Iraqi government’s role in Tarmiyah’s future. Planning notes encouraged participants to emphasize the "use of GoI [government of Iraq] reconstruction process" and to""highlight how they are going to publicize their (future) strategic projects–— giving credit to GoI.""

Local leaders welcomed the government officials with effusive speeches, talking up their successes and promising hard work in future partnerships with the Iraqi government.

"We are not going to encounter any obstacles that will keep us from achieving these goals," promised Sheik Sa’ed, the area’s leading sheik and the host for the event.

After the speeches, the visitors went to see displays that Tarmiyah government offices, local Iraqi security forces, key companies and other groups created on poster board size pieces of white plywood. Photos and signs nailed to the boards touted successful projects, growing businesses and sacrifices that the community made while fighting off the insurgents. Briefers at each station extolled the city’s success in messages that they spent hours polishing.

Esra Karim, a Tarmiyah engineer, was a presenter who advertised projects done by the city’s qa’em makam, or mayor. The goal, she said, was to show Baghdad officials that the city wasn’t the same place it once was and to convince them that they’d put government money to good use.

"We want to reflect to other people that we are not sitting here, we are working," she said.

Tarmiyah continued to woo the dignitaries after everyone had a chance to circle through the booths. Sa’ed invited the dignitaries back to his home for a lavish feast. Servers hauled table-sized trays of rice, bread and lamb to the visitors’ tables. The stuffed crowd then danced to some of the first notes to be broadcast from Tarmiyah’s new radio station.

"This isn’t about showing off to us," McCaffrey said. "They’re showing off to one another today.""

When the day was over, it was impossible to ignore the aftertaste of a sophisticated sales pitch. In this case, though, that may be just what Iraqi democracy needs.