A common misconception about working with legislators is that one must meet directly with the elected official in order to convey one’s opinion on a given issue. With the incredibly busy schedule that most legislators keep, this is not always feasible.

A good alternative, however, is to work with the legislator’s staff and have them relay your thoughts or concerns to the member. With all due respect to elected officials, they often are too busy to really pay attention to an issue that is on the back burner at the time. At the height of legislative activity, there is little time to focus beyond the day’s agenda.

There has been a lot of attention in recent years about the growth of legislative staff. Legislators have been ridiculed for hiring more and more people and spending more and more money. However, we must realize that the workload of the staff has also grown exponentially in recent years. As more citizens are educated about the importance of being involved in the process, of conveying one’s thoughts on important pieces of legislation, more and more phone calls and mail pour into the legislators’ offices. It is the staff who has to keep up with this, and more often than not, it is the staff who advises the elected official on how his constituents feel about a measure.

Usually right before an issue is scheduled to be considered, the member will turn to his staff for input. Who has contacted us about this issue? Who are the players? Who’s for it and who’s against it? The old adage that the squeakiest wheel gets the oil often proves true. if you have talked with staff often enough, you will be remembered. Even if you do have the opportunity to meet directly with the official, make sure you are also covering your bases with staff. The staff will have more time to spend with you and they will be able to focus more on your issues. Be nice to them and explain how you want to help them in this process. Always, always, always leave them written information on your subject (bullet points are best) and spell out very clearly what you want them to do. Staffers, and in turn legislators, appreciate having their work done for them and are more receptive to folks who seem to have their act together and who are not interested in wasting a lot of time. Anytime you can provide staff with a draft of a letter that needs to be signed, a draft or copy of legislation in which you are interested, or summaries of an issue or activity, it would be extremely helpful to do so. Offer yourself as a resource.

Even if there is no burning issue at the time, call the office or drop by and ask who handles the issues you are interested in. If you are there in person, is that staffer available for you to introduce yourself? Tell them you do not want to take a lot of their time, but wanted to say hello and that you look forward to working with them on issues in the future. Let them know that you are available if they ever need an answer on a pending measure or issue in which you are knowledgeable. Tell them you just wanted to introduce yourself and acquaint them with the resources of your club.

If you nurture this relationship, the staff will be there for you when you need them most!