By Rich Bartholomew, Advocacy Chair
This article offers some tips for effectively interacting with elected officials and their staff. It recommends a three-step process: Prepare, Choose your Methods, and Follow Up.
PREPARE
Do your homework. In the LWV, we study before we advocate. Review our League Directory of Elected Officials to learn who represents you. Find it on our website, here:
And check the Palm Beach County website at: Discover.PBCgov.org
- Get and analyze a copy of any bill/proposal you want to consider as well as any explanatory materials. This can usually be done on official websites, such as MyFloridaHouse.gov, where you can research bills before the Legislature. Contact the staff of the proposing official. Effective contact starts with the staff. These individuals set the officials’ schedule; review proposals/legislation; or perform “constituent service.” Develop staff relationships.
- Track any relevant media reports. “Google” the issue. Learn background information, such as biographies found on official, campaign and personal websites
- Monitor what their jurisdiction is doing. Most official meetings can be observed live or recorded using video links available on websites. For example: youtube.com/@pbctvchannel20
- Write a description (one page or less) of your request/position.
CHOOSE YOUR METHODS
- Decide on the appropriate method of contact: in-person, by phone/ZOOM, by email, or at a public meeting. You should get advice from their staff about the most appropriate way.
- Expect only limited time to make your point. Do you want to talk about a bill, ordinance, policy or initiative that they have supported/proposed/opposed? Or is it someone else’s proposal/bill? Use your “one pager” to be concise.
- If you want to ask an official to introduce a bill, you probably want to schedule a meeting in their office with other League members.
- Connect at their local office, especially for State Legislators and Members of Congress.
- Approach them as a constituent. Whenever possible, involve an actual constituent who votes in their district/jurisdiction. Or you may cite the position of another elected official within your jurisdiction. For example, you can say that you are contacting them to support something sponsored by a member of our County Delegation.
- Explain why you are asking them to take action; where additional information can be found; or what other data you can supply.
- If you want them to oppose something on an upcoming agenda, a phone call expressing your reasoning might be adequate.
- Go to public meetings. Formal presentations at public meetings are normally limited for time and other requirements. But you might “buttonhole” an official at a meeting to introduce yourself and comment.
- Show respect. Avoid shrill or demanding behavior.
FOLLOW UP
- Write/email the official, thanking them and their staff for listening to you; and that you are available for future contact.
PLEASE NOTE: Advocating for any official League position requires that you check with the LWVPBC President, the Committee Chair, the LWVFL or an action alert, before you make contact. When advocating for the League, there are protocols to follow. Consult the Advocacy Committee (Advocacy@LWVPBC.org) for suggestions or training.
