Lobbying and Elections Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Of all that biking and walking advocates do, perhaps the most important work is representing the interests of people who bike and walk in the political process. Whether through a public candidate survey, a ribbon-cutting event for local media, or working behind the scenes with elected officials, active transportation advocates use a variety of successful tactics to heighten their political clout and improve street safety. On this call, expert advocates in our movement discussed best practices and tips on lobbying and participating in elections.

Advice from James Wilson Executive Director, Bike Delaware

The story behind Bike Delawares first candidate survey
Back in 2010, Bike Delaware was an all-volunteer organization with a less focused advocacy agenda. James attended the 2010 Alliance Leadership Retreat and heard a presenter say that every group should be doing candidate surveys. In response to this advice, Bike Delaware put together a simple candidate survey that asked all candidates running for the states General Assembly about their support for dedicated state funding for biking and walking. The survey asked candidates: Every biking and walking advocacy organization should be doing candidate surveys.

On a scale of 1 to 5, rank your support of the following statements, with on being strongly agree and five being strongly disagree: 1. I supported or agreed with the recently passed Vulnerable Users Bill? 2. I believe that increased use of active modes of transportation (i.e. walking and bicycling) improves public health. 3. I believe that investing in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure saves people money by allowing them to spend a smaller percentage of their household budgets on transportation; and makes Delawares economy less vulnerable to disruption from oil price shocks. 4. I support greater state transportation spending on walking and bicycling. 5. A minimum percentage of state transportation funding should be dedicated to the development of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and facilities. Please answer the 5 questions and return your answers to Bike Delaware, preferably via email, at survey@bikede.org by October 19.

Benefits of a candidate survey

Form relationships for better advocacy. Bike Delawares survey helped James and his colleagues develop relationships with politicians where previously none had existed. Branch out beyond bureaucrats and agency staff. Candidate surveys help you form relationships with elected officials, who control the purse strings. Get to know the people who are in charge of making big funding decisions, not just the agency staff who implement policy. 1

Lobbying and Elections Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Reveal potential action areas. Through the 2010 survey, Bike Delaware learned of significant support for dedicated funding for biking and walking amongst elected officials. This convinced the advocates to put resources towards establishing dedicated state funding for active transportation. Gain traction with partners. Bike Delawares survey helped the organization form partnerships with stronger, more established organizations, including a prominent public health group. Make your organization known to elected officials. Many General Assembly candidates had not heard of the organization before; now Bike Delaware is well known by many state legislators.

How to do a candidate survey

Ask the right questions. Select questions that cover a wide variety of issues, that matter to the community, and that relate to transportation issues. Ensure that the questions you are asking are related to potential policy changes you would advocate for. Avoid frivolous questions like Do you ride a bike? Ask about what you want. You wont get something unless you ask for it. If you ask for something, you might not get it but if you dont ask for it, you definitely wont get it. Be neutral in your questions. Dont word your questions so as to indicate the right response or otherwise reflect your organizations agenda. Be careful not to electioneer. Give all candidates for the office an equal opportunity to participate.

Limits of 501(c)3 organizations

501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofits are prohibited from electioneering, which means endorsing and contributing to candidates. They also cant publish or communicate anything that explicitly or implicitly favors or opposes a candidate. But limitations on electioneering dont prevent tax-exempt organizations from participating in politics. 501(c)3s can engage in candidate surveys as non-partisan information-gathering and voter education. In the 2010 survey, Bike Delaware was very careful not to demonize any candidates for their answers. The organization also avoided grading candidates on their answers. To be fully compliant, 501(c)3 organizations must offer all candidates the opportunity to respond to a survey.

Lobbying advice
Consider public criticism the nuclear option. Criticizing or attacking public officials is an extreme choice; using negative tactics can push people who arent on your side of an issue even further away.

Lobbying and Elections Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Advice from Evan Manvel Director of Policy, Planning and Government Affairs, Cascade Bicycle Club
General tips for state and local lobbying
Use the cycle of accountability: endorse candidates, then hold them accountable once they are elected. (Note: only organizations with 501(c)4 status can endorse candidates.) Always thank politicians, because they will remember the thank-yous. Focus on using carrots, but dont be afraid to use a stick. In one instance, after the mayor took an undesirable stance, Cascade leaked to the press that the club was considering endorsing another candidate for mayor over the incumbent. While the mayor was privately upset, he publicly changed his tone and supported Cascades agenda.

Perks of having a 501(c)4s

If your political work becomes more intense, consider having two separate organizations. Cascade Bicycle Clubs core organization is 501(c)4, so the organization can do some things that 501(c)3s cannot. 501(c)4 organizations can participate in elections, which can bring much more power to lobbying. If you help people get their job, they will like you. As a (c)4, Cascade can endorse candidates. If the candidate who did not receive Cascades endorsement wins, many times the winning candidate will still be open to a relationship in hopes of a future endorsement. If a candidate holds a grudge, advocates will choose a different messenger for lobbying. Appeal to their interests Conversations with politicians arent logical debates. Ap- and build relationships peal to their interests and build relationships over time. over time. This is a meta-story, and people want to be on the right side. The messenger is the message. When lobbying and meeting elected officials, bike/ped advocates are often pigeonholed. Try to include other messengers in your meetings, or even better get your allies to attend meetings on your behalf. Unexpected messengers wake legislators up. Strong coalitions and great messengers are more important than legislation details. People are generally less concerned with how the law works than with who supports the law.

Pay attention to the story and the storyteller

Differences between local and state lobbying

When meeting with local elected officials, you are more likely to meet with the official than their staff. On the state level, you are more likely to meet with staff.

Lobbying and Elections Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday, June 19, 2013
On the state level, you will encounter more organized opponents than you will at the local level. Its much easier to keep track of support and opposition on the local level. Counting votes on a seven-seat council is much easier than counting votes in a fifty-seat state senate.

Advice from Caron Whitaker Vice President of Government Relations, League of American Bicyclists
Build relationships with your federal representatives and their staff
It really is all about relationships. Every point of contact is an opportunity to build a positive relationship. Building successful relationships makes your organization the authority on biking and walking, so that the office will contact you with questions on the issues you care about. Stay in touch! Frequent communications are important. Be honest. Be knowledgeable about your work, but be transparent if you dont know something. Commit to finding out, and get back to them. Always let lawmakers and their staff know if there is the potential for controversy. Ask your representatives and senators for help in funding specific projects. This gives lawmakers a way to be involved and gives you an opportunity to thank them. Keep congressional staffers in the loop, but dont send too much. Pick out the specific success stories and events that you will forward to congressional staffers. This helps maintain regular contact while preventing over-contact.

Elevate local voices

Use district visits and events to give lawmakers and their staff a positive relationship with biking. Hearing about people in their district that care about an issue will influence lawmakers votes more than statistics. Often, receiving twelve or fifteen constituent phone calls about a bill is enough to demonstrate support. Connect your supportive local officials with your federal representatives. Georgia advocates brought a congressional staffer to a local city council meeting to hear about the importance of biking and walking directly from city councilors. After Senator Thune of South Dakota supported a biking and walking amendment, the Falls Area Bicyclists invited the Senator to an annual dinner. The Senators presence was a draw for members, the Senator had a great time, and the event helped build the relationship further.

Case study: be persistent

During his first several years in Congress, Representative Larry Bucshon of Indiana would not meet with advocates at the National Bike Summit, and he was a vocal opponent to the Cardin-Cochran amendment to provide funding for biking and walking in 4

Lobbying and Elections Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call Wednesday, June 19, 2013
2012. In response, the Indiana Bicycle Coalition brought in new messengers and started focusing on new messaging. By emphasizing road safety, they approached with a perspective that the representative could more closely identify with. The Bicycle Coalition invited the representative to a bike ride hosted by the local Rotary Club. Representative Buschon rode with his family and spoke publicly about the health benefits of biking. Now, the congressmans office sees the Indiana Bicycle Coalition as a resource, and their relationship has improved.

Case study: get to know your people

In Illinois, the League of American Bicyclists worked with Representative Tim Johnson to gain his public support for biking and walking. Representative Johnson had supported Safe Routes to School and bicycling, but would not go on record to support biking and walking more prominently. Ed Barsotti of the League of Illinois Bicyclists worked with local contacts, including a former mayor, to speak with Johnson. Because he heard from local contacts, and not just bicycle advocates, the Representative became a key sponsor of bike-friendly legislation. Maintaining relationships with staffers pays off, too. A former Johnson staffer is now at the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. In his new role, he informally helps bike groups in the business community.

Additional Resources
Michigan League for Human Services Lobbying 101 for Nonprofits - A Power Point introduction. CEDAMs Lobbying 101 for Nonprofits - A video introduction from a public policy advocacy specialist. Advocacy Advances An Advocates Guide to Elections - A great introduction to engaging in elections, using biking and walking nonprofits as examples. Advocacy Advances Primer on Federal Funding for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects - Suggests which questions to ask in order to figure out how federal funding can support local projects. Advocacy Advances How Statewide Organizations are Winning Federal Dollars for Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects - A helpful guide showcasing successful campaigns to increase state funding for biking and walking. Advocacy Advances Developing a Successful Funding Campaign - This grid walks you through elements of developing a successful funding campaign.