Developing Relationships with Candidates

This training features first hand advice from state representatives and senators on how to engage Congressional candidates about climate change. It also features several CCL Group Leaders, who describe events they created to involve candidates in climate change discussions.

Overview

The first half features CCL Greater Tuscon Group Leaders Jane Conlin and Ed Beshore sharing best practices for “Coffee with Candidates” as well as CCL CA North Orange County - Southeast L.A. County’s Group Leader Dennis Arp sharing best practices for their well-attended nonpartisan Earth Day CA39 candidate forum.

The second half features State Rep. Katrina Shankland (WI), State Sen. Robb Hogg (IA), and former U.S. Rep. Claudine Schneider (RI) providing insights on how to leverage relationships with local and state officials to build connections with congressional members and candidates.

Learning Goals

• Leading up to a Congressional election, learn how to develop a plan to deepen relationships with your district’s Congressional candidates.
• Understand best practices on communicating the importance of climate change issues and solutions with both liberal and conservative candidates. 
• Understand how to use relationships with both local and state officials to engage candidates. 

Coffee with Candidates 

The CCL Tucson-Oro Valley Chapter planned and held a “Coffee with Candidates” to educate candidates about CCL and Carbon Fee and Dividend. The second purpose was to help our membership better understand the candidates’ position on climate change and their response to proposed solutions. 

To organize these events (for multiple candidates), volunteers called, emailed or visited campaign offices, and communicated with candidate’s appointment scheduler. They requested meetings for coffee – to introduce CCL to the candidate, and discuss their opinions on climate change and on solutions.

In many ways, these meetings with coffee were organized and implemented with the same practices as lobby meetings with congressional representatives or senators. 

The format included personal introductions, an appreciation, a brief description of CCL, and then discussion about climate change. Typical questions might be: 

• How much of a problem do you consider climate change to be for this district? 
• How can the office you seek can best protect citizens from the effects of climate change?
• Have you heard about specific solutions?

Then present the carbon fee and dividend solution, and status of current legislation. 

Climate Forum with Candidates

CCL CA North Orange County - Southeast L.A. County chapter invited twelve congressional candidates for the CA39 congressional seat to a non-partisan forum on climate policy. More than100 citizens and media attended.  

Organizing the event involved contacting candidate staff, selecting the venue, and publicizing the forum, including reaching out to local officials and other environmental groups. 

Besides publicity on climate change, another benefit was making important new connections. Many of the candidates thanked CCL for hosting and said how pleased they were to get a chance to spend ninety minutes discussing policy on an issue that seldom came up in other candidate forums.

State Senator Rob Hogg (IA)

Sen. Hogg's key thoughts: 

• Your involvement matters - have a goal to get more citizens “more informed and more involved.”
• Speak with all elected officials and work towards a climate action majority.
• Remember that “a doubting Thomas today can be a leader for climate action tomorrow.”

When engaging with candidates and other public officials, here are good ways to raise climate change awareness without further polarizing candidates:

• Avoid purity tests and public shame tactics
• Emphasize that climate action should be a priority
• Share your concerns and invite them to discuss  potential solutions
• Ask advice from elected officials at any level
• Remember to ask open questions and avoid speaking at length

How to get candidates to know you:

• Show up at events to get to know everyone, be strategic
• Fundraising events are okay to go to but make sure to try and honor a suggested contribution as much as realistic for your situation.
• Volunteering for candidates in quiet ways matters and is noticed

How frequently should you contact a candidate? Every 4-6 weeks is fine, but involve a variety of volunteers voices. 

How to find out where and when candidates are appearing? Find event schedules on candidate websites and Facebook pages. Don’t overlook local papers, radio, and word of mouth.

Former U.S. Rep. Claudine Schneider (RI)

Her suggestions: 

The best thing to do is be visible. Attend the candidate’s fundraisers, town meetings, rallies.

Say "hello" and each time say you are part of the Citizens' Climate Lobby and ask what are their plans to address climate change?  Stop there - don’t try to educate them - be memorable and friendly.

Find creative ways to get to know candidates (e.g. volunteer to drive the candidate to an event - then you have her ear! )

Chapters can partner in co-hosting a candidate forum with the League of Women Voters, or other entities like local Chambers of Commerce.

Rep. Katrina Shankland, Wisconsin State Assembly 

Her thoughts: 

Engage local and state officials, who then can use their positions to influence members of Congress.

Reach out to all your elected officials. Build relationships over time with frequent check-ins, and get on a first name basis with them.

Officials include members of city councils or county boards, county executives, state senators and state representative.

• Have a specific ask reflective of the needs of the district and your goals. 
• Make your argument personal. Do you have a story you can share? 
• Use research to buoy your argument.
• Apply it to their district and their local economy: 

What to ask of your elected officials:

• Introduce legislation
• Cosponsor legislation
• Vote for/against legislation
• Introduce an amendment to improve legislation
• Sponsor a study committee or caucus
• Influence other legislators (including their members of Congress)

Introductions and Agenda
(from beginning)

• Jane Conlin
• Ed Beshore
• Dennis Arp
• Wisc. State Rep. Katrina Shankland
• Iowa State Sen. Robb Hogg 
• Former RI U.S. Rep. Claudine Schneider

Introductions and Agenda
(from beginning)

• Jane Conlin
• Ed Beshore
• Dennis Arp
• Wisc. State Rep. Katrina Shankland
• Iowa State Sen. Robb Hogg 
• Former RI U.S. Rep. Claudine Schneider

• Download this episode (right click and save).
• Find the episode on CCL’s iTunes channel.