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How to Lobby Your Government
- By Annise Parker
- Published 04/15/2009
- Editorial and Opinion
- Unrated
The city employee who emailed me asking me to use my influence to prevent the automatic water rate increase set by ordinance doesn’t consider himself a lobbyist. That’s a dirty word to some people. Tobacco lobbyist, drug industry lobbyist, soft money, major campaign contributor—guilt by association has tainted a perfectly good word.
Lobby originally meant public room next to the legislative chamber, hence, the modern definition of lobbyist: someone who tries to influence legislation. If you’ve ever voiced your opinion to a public official, you’re a lobbyist—albeit an unpaid one.
Cheap and effective e-lobbying
In late 2001, the Professional Golf Association (PGA) proposed moving Memorial Park tennis courts and other changes so the Shell Houston Open golf tournament could be held at the park. Emails flooded council offices. After two weeks, the count was: 500 against, 5 for.
Judging from some of the form letters, people had obviously emailed each other, but, overall, the deluge reflected spontaneous outrage from a cross section of Houstonians who jog, walk, bike and play tennis at Memorial. As a council member (1998-2004), this was the most emails I’d received on any issue. As you may have noticed, Shell Open golfers do not tee off at Memorial Park.
Email has forever changed lobbying, for better—prompt and thorough public response—and for worse—rude venting, clogged inboxes, spam, porn and form letters. With Facebook and Twitter, the original emailer can turn his or her issue into hundreds of emails. You can easily email all council members at once by going to: www.houstontx.gov/council/index.htm
I love hearing from constituents and try to read every email that comes into the City Controller’s office. Fortunately, I’m a speed reader. Unfortunately, reading everything is still impossible because of the sheer volume of emails in a city of 2 million. As a citywide council member, I often received 100-200 emails weekly that required response. As city controller, with no vote on City Council, I may receive 25 a week that require response.
Rather than send the generic replies (thank you for your input. I’m studying the issue...) that many offices send, I prefer to respond in detail—a comprehensive form letter if you will—about issues that generate a lot of mail. I apologize if we don’t answer every question in your email or each one individually. We do try.
Email vs. snail mail vs. calls
Emails and phone calls get the fastest response in my office. Not everyone, of course, has a computer or cell phone and email. Old-fashioned letters do work.
Snail mail requires stationery and stamps. So, if you have email, please use it and save the taxpayers’ money. Phone calls can be a problem if you insist on speaking to the elected official. I stack them up and return calls in spurts. If you need immediate response, please talk to my staff.
Corralling Council Members
You can’t assume that a majority of council members read your email or printed letter, especially if it’s long and detailed. But it’s possible to address City Council members by signing up to speak at the 2 p.m. Tuesday public session.
You may have to wait until 3 or 4 p.m. to speak. The wait is worth it if you want to address all (or most) council members simultaneously about a particular issue. To be more effective, bring copies of your speech and have them handed out to council members.
You don’t have to be a great speaker, just reasonable and well-organized in a three-minute presentation. Call the city secretary at (832)393-1100 to reserve time.
One-on-one meetings
Officers of non-profit organizations often ask to meet with City Council members, and even the city controller. They’d like support for a project, a grant from the city (state or federal), or they may be having problems with a department. All City Council staffs have people who specialize in constituent services (neighborhood issues), and agenda and committee issues.
Dealing with staff can be quicker and just as productive as meeting with the elected official—after all, staff gets paid to get things done! If you want to meet with a council member, just call them. Sometimes it’s better to send a letter or package first, explaining your project and requesting a meeting. Bottom line: Don’t be afraid to ask an elected official for help. You pay our salaries, and we work for you.
To receive my monthly email newsletter, please email annise.parker@cityofhouston.net or call (832)393-3405. The city controller Web site is www.houstontx.gov/controller/index.html. Annise D. Parker is Houston City Comptroller (the second highest elected city official). She is now running for mayor of Houston.
Lobby originally meant public room next to the legislative chamber, hence, the modern definition of lobbyist: someone who tries to influence legislation. If you’ve ever voiced your opinion to a public official, you’re a lobbyist—albeit an unpaid one.
Cheap and effective e-lobbying
In late 2001, the Professional Golf Association (PGA) proposed moving Memorial Park tennis courts and other changes so the Shell Houston Open golf tournament could be held at the park. Emails flooded council offices. After two weeks, the count was: 500 against, 5 for.
Judging from some of the form letters, people had obviously emailed each other, but, overall, the deluge reflected spontaneous outrage from a cross section of Houstonians who jog, walk, bike and play tennis at Memorial. As a council member (1998-2004), this was the most emails I’d received on any issue. As you may have noticed, Shell Open golfers do not tee off at Memorial Park.
Email has forever changed lobbying, for better—prompt and thorough public response—and for worse—rude venting, clogged inboxes, spam, porn and form letters. With Facebook and Twitter, the original emailer can turn his or her issue into hundreds of emails. You can easily email all council members at once by going to: www.houstontx.gov/council/index.htm
I love hearing from constituents and try to read every email that comes into the City Controller’s office. Fortunately, I’m a speed reader. Unfortunately, reading everything is still impossible because of the sheer volume of emails in a city of 2 million. As a citywide council member, I often received 100-200 emails weekly that required response. As city controller, with no vote on City Council, I may receive 25 a week that require response.
Rather than send the generic replies (thank you for your input. I’m studying the issue...) that many offices send, I prefer to respond in detail—a comprehensive form letter if you will—about issues that generate a lot of mail. I apologize if we don’t answer every question in your email or each one individually. We do try.
Email vs. snail mail vs. calls
Emails and phone calls get the fastest response in my office. Not everyone, of course, has a computer or cell phone and email. Old-fashioned letters do work.
Snail mail requires stationery and stamps. So, if you have email, please use it and save the taxpayers’ money. Phone calls can be a problem if you insist on speaking to the elected official. I stack them up and return calls in spurts. If you need immediate response, please talk to my staff.
Corralling Council Members
You can’t assume that a majority of council members read your email or printed letter, especially if it’s long and detailed. But it’s possible to address City Council members by signing up to speak at the 2 p.m. Tuesday public session.
You may have to wait until 3 or 4 p.m. to speak. The wait is worth it if you want to address all (or most) council members simultaneously about a particular issue. To be more effective, bring copies of your speech and have them handed out to council members.
You don’t have to be a great speaker, just reasonable and well-organized in a three-minute presentation. Call the city secretary at (832)393-1100 to reserve time.
One-on-one meetings
Officers of non-profit organizations often ask to meet with City Council members, and even the city controller. They’d like support for a project, a grant from the city (state or federal), or they may be having problems with a department. All City Council staffs have people who specialize in constituent services (neighborhood issues), and agenda and committee issues.
Dealing with staff can be quicker and just as productive as meeting with the elected official—after all, staff gets paid to get things done! If you want to meet with a council member, just call them. Sometimes it’s better to send a letter or package first, explaining your project and requesting a meeting. Bottom line: Don’t be afraid to ask an elected official for help. You pay our salaries, and we work for you.
To receive my monthly email newsletter, please email annise.parker@cityofhouston.net or call (832)393-3405. The city controller Web site is www.houstontx.gov/controller/index.html. Annise D. Parker is Houston City Comptroller (the second highest elected city official). She is now running for mayor of Houston.