CAM Convening Recap
Building relationships with your elected officials
Where do we begin? What are best practices? What should I say?
We posed these and other common questions to three former municipal and state representatives at our October 2022 CAM Convening. View the recording of our conversation, or scroll down for a brief summary of their advice.
The upshot: Your elected officials are eager to hear from you. It’s never been more important to keep your state, county, and town officials aware of the important cultural work you’re doing. Successful advocacy starts with genuine relationships!
Guest Artist
Daniel Quintanilla, filmmaker
Special Guests
Safiya Khalid, politician and activist, former Lewiston City Councilor
Brian Hubbell, Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of Policy Innovation & the Future; former State Rep for Lamoine/Bar Harbor/Mt Desert, 2012-2020
David Webster, Former State Representative, Freeport/Part of Pownal, 2004-2012
Insights
1. Contacting your reps does not need to be formal.
Feel free to use the same communication channels you use with your friends and family. In office, former Lewiston city councilor Safiya Khalid was frequently contacted over Snapchat, an app that Gen Z in particular heavily uses. Former state legislator David Webster found that handwritten notes really caught his attention. If your candidate or rep is on Facebook, message them; if they post on Instagram, DM them. If you see your rep at the grocery store, as we often do in Maine, introduce yourself politely (even if you disagree with their politics) and follow up with the details of your idea, praise, or concern later through your communication channel of choice.
2. Don't worry about sounding polished. In fact, unpolished is better!
Former legislator Brian Hubbell told us there is no pressure to sound savvy or polished - you should sound like you, not like a copied-and-pasted script or message, to get an official's attention. Talk to them casually and respectfully, like a neighbor.
3. If it's worth your time to work on, it's worth their time to hear about.
Your elected officials genuinely want to know if culture workers and organizations have a problem keeping them up at night. A leaky roof at your historical society, or trouble finding staff, can't be solved by your representatives overnight, but they might have the right connection or resource, and will feel more informed so they can vote well for their community when a bill lands on their desk. They'll look to you as a resource and partner when considering broader solutions - maybe even inviting you to testify at the legislature and share your story more broadly.
4. Your success is their success.
Above all, your elected officials want to enjoy your work and celebrate your successes! Your city councilors, county officials, state legislators, and even the governor’s office will always welcome an invitation to see and celebrate your work. If scheduling allows, they will be eager to take part in joyful community experiences. (Don't forget - you're offering them a photo opportunity, too, which is valuable to them!)
5. CAM is here to help you build these relationships.
Please visit CAM’s “Invite Your Officials” portal and compose a simple, authentic invitation to begin building a relationship with your elected officials. They'll remember you when you come to them with a problem, or encourage them to vote thoughtfully for your community on a piece of legislation.
Links + Resources
CAM’s Invite Your Officials Portal
Community Organizing Alliance - a social justice, civic engagement organization that centers the voices and experiences of BIPOC & low-income Mainers to ensure they are empowered and engaged in their communities.
Writing a Letter to your Legislator (PDF) - Council of Nonprofits
Personal Visits with a Legislator (PDF) - Council of Nonprofits
Maine’s 10-year Economic Development Strategy - Maine.gov