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A presentation given at Public Meetings SOS on December 7 2012 by Jessica Adamson from CFM Strategic Communications.
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Effective Communication with Elected Officials
CFM Strategic Communications
Understanding your Elected Officials
“The Legislature is a microcosm of society” – Fmr. Senator Jeanette Hamby (R-‐Hillsboro)
Life in the political world Campaign season
Governing Personal life
Remember: Elected officials ran for office to help their constituents and improve their communities.
Federal Delegation
Bigger challenges/new opportunities US Senators and Congressmen have more
constituents, more travel, and more demands on their time
Increased opportunities for visibility of projects when a federal official tours or becomes a project champion
A tale of (at least) two staff teams DC and District staff
Federal Delegation
Best practices: Develop relationships with district and DC staff Submit requests for tours/appointments as far in
advance as possible Be flexible – weekends/evenings/holidays Provide 1-‐2 page background briefs Attend town hall events, be visible Provide regular updates on projects to the
delegation – both good news and challenging news Build your communications around their interests/
committees
State and Local Leaders
The life of a Citizen Legislator Annual sessions Small staff Balancing legislative, work, family and campaign
duties/obligations Difficult to obtain media recognition for their work
Local Leaders Many are volunteers with varying expertise Usually get involved because of a local issue
State and Local Leaders
Best Practices Develop relationships with state legislators, local
leaders and their staff
Invite them to community meetings, tours, project briefings
Sign up for newsletter (usually email) distribution lists
Attend town hall events and constituent coffees
Brief local leaders about problems before they become public
Build your communications around their interests/committees
Top Tips for Communicating with all Elected Officials
During a meeting, make your key points first.
Always follow-‐up with a thank you note and more information.
Never ambush or surprise elected officials
Use smart communication – not mass communication – as your tool of choice
Develop long term relationships. Politics makes strange bedfellows.
Questions?
Contact Information
Jessica Adamson CFM Strategic Communications 1100 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 1425
Portland, OR 503.294.9120
[email protected] www.cfm-‐online.com