As city officials, working with the state Legislature is a key element of your service, but one that often seems daunting. The tips below are designed to demystify state advocacy.
During the interim (when the Legislature is not in session)
Establish a year-round working relationship with your legislators.
Part of your job as a local elected official is to make sure legislators understand how their decisions in Olympia affect your city and community members. This requires year-round contact. Ask for periodic meetings or calls throughout the year. The relationship you cultivate will facilitate a stronger city-state partnership.
Develop your city’s legislative agenda, and share it.
Tell your legislators what you want from them. Sharing your city’s legislative agenda is a simple yet effective way to get your legislator’s attention. It’s best to adopt your legislative agenda in the fall. However, you can also do it at the beginning of the legislative session.
Work to get your local media to cover your city’s needs.
Develop a relationship with your local media. This is a great opportunity to educate community members about what your city needs, which helps spur action and holds legislators accountable.
When the Legislature is in session
Make the most of your meeting with legislators.
Time with your legislator during the legislative session is brief. Once you have a meeting with your legislator, it’s important that you make the most of it. Be concise; plan what you want to say in advance; tell stories to illustrate impacts to constituents, not impacts to government. And don’t try to cover too much: 3–5 issues at most.
Act strategically.
Communicate what your city needs early and often. Frame your city’s issues in a way that legislators can understand and remember. Don’t just send an email—meet in person, or call them! Speak with your legislator or the legislative aide. Too many charts and graphs can make brains spin; instead, talk about specific bills or budget priorities, and tell stories about real impacts on your constituents. And speak up even if you think it may not be necessary: if legislators don’t hear from you on something deemed important, they may assume you don’t care.
Rapid response
Here are some ideas for countering common excuses from legislators:
“I’m not on the committee.”
Your legislator’s job is to fight for your district! They need to advocate for your interests.
“I had to follow my caucus.”
The only way for your community to get what you need is for your legislators to fight within their caucus to support you.
“City funding is not our problem.”
Cities are both society’s backbone and the state’s economic engine. Make sure that the tools necessary to keep cities strong are in place.
“Cities are doing better than the state.”
If your city is struggling, explain why. For cities that are faring better, remind your legislators that the vast majority of the tax dollars generated by economic activity flow to the state.
“Cities pay more for employees than the state; control your own costs.”
Teacher salaries vary by region, as do public service costs. Cities must respond to the economic market—it’s not all in our control.