How to talk so your legislator will listen- key advocacy tips from our 2021 Commissioners' Seminar

Victoria Lincoln

Deputy Director of the Washington Public Ports Association & Director of Legislative Affairs

WPPA was honored to host a discussion with current and former legislators about ways port commissioners can effectively communicate their legislative priorities.  This hour-long Roundtable was engaging and humorous and chalk-full of tips and tricks.

We want to acknowledge Senator Ann Rivers (La Center), Representative Steve Kirby (Tacoma) and former Representative Dave Mastin (Walla Walla) for taking the time to share their pearls of wisdom.  Among the three of them, they have more than 5 decades of legislative experience, so who better to ask how to be effective than this esteemed group?!

Key takeaways from Senator Rivers:

·       Reach out immediately to your local legislators when you have something you need through the legislative process.  Don’t wait until the last minute to explain what you may need.

·       Build a strong relationship with your local legislators “before you need the relationship”. 

·       Get your legislators’ cell phone numbers so you can communicate with them when things are moving fast in Olympia that you care about.

Key takeaways from Representative Kirby:

·       Familiarize yourself with the process of how a bill becomes law.  This will help you to be more effective during the legislative session.

·       Especially if you are new to the port commission, this is an opportunity to introduce yourself to your local legislators.  Take that first step, because everyone must start somewhere.

·       You may disagree with your legislators on some issues, and at other times you will need their help.  Whatever you do, treat them with respect.  The next time you need to speak to them, you will be glad you did!

Key takeaways from Dave Mastin:

·       Build a relationship with your local legislators outside of the legislative process.  Don’t try to introduce yourself to them for the first time during the hectic legislative session.

·       Learn things about your legislators, so you can relate to them in their community.

·       There is a lot of rotation in the legislature, just like with local elected officials.  Try to keep up as changes occur.

A few other points were made that are also worth mentioning. 

·       Be sure to follow up after a meeting with your legislators to thank them for their time and to remind them of the top 2 or 3 points you want them to remember.  They meet with a lot of people and a follow-up email will help them remember your request.

·       State your position up front.  Again, they hear from a lot of people, so be frank and concise with your message.

Finally, they acknowledged that there have been a lot of changes to the legislative process through this pandemic and just in general.  One of the big changes is that most legislators will no longer accept paper.  Don’t be surprised if they reject material that you try to hand them.  Use email to outline your key points to them. 

WPPA hosts a “Port Day” each year during session and publishes a legislative report each Friday during legislative session.  Be sure to check out these and other tools on the WPPA website.