I’ve been on many sides of public advocacy campaigns. As a city attorney I have attended hundreds of council meetings, and reviewed the record in writ and appellate actions. As a lawyer for developers I’ve negotiated with city officials to get approvals for major projects. I was part of a community group that fought against oil drilling in my town. As a planning commissioner I have been the recipient of communications from concerned residents. I’ve spent hundreds of hours since March 2020 writing emails, making phone calls, and speaking at meetings to my elected representatives about a number of covid-related issues.
Whether the issue is big or small, there are a few principles that help make an argument persuasive to government officials.
1. Be brief.
Public officials are usually volunteers with full time jobs and families.
They’ve got a number of issues they are being asked to vote on. They may only have one minute to review your comments or listen to you, and you need to prioritize your best arguments and present them in the most persuasive manner.
Make a one-page bullet point outline to follow while you speak. Make sure your opinion is supported by verifiable facts and evidence.
If your argument strikes a chord with a public official, then they can easily look back at your outline to back up voting in support of your position, and it will be easier for them to identify the reasons why they are voting a certain way.
Practice in advance to make sure you can say what you need to say in under three minutes (or whatever the time limit on public comment is).
2. Remember Why You’re Speaking