There is a special kind of adrenaline rush that comes with being a newly elected state government official. Watching the votes trickle in builds nervous excitement. Raising your right hand to take the oath of office at your swearing in is awe-inspiring. And then comes a wave of confusion and fear of failure on your first full day with the assembly.
What is this arcane parliamentary process? How can I be effective in committee when I don’t know anything about this topic? How can I make a difference when my one vote seems so inconsequential? Some of these questions may plague you initially or over time, casting a dark shadow of doubt over the once heady fervor of your potential as an agent of change.
Fortunately, all is not lost due to rookie status. While the learning curve is indeed steep, there are things you can do to be an impactful representative of constituent interests from the outset, and chief among them is to cling to your vision – the reason you ran for office in the first place.
Your motivation to run for office could be due to a number of reasons – frustration at government incompetence, anger at legislative policy outcomes, passion for an issue that no one was addressing, or a reason only you fully understand. Whatever the reason, you will need to utilize several key tools in order to make the most of your time in the legislature and to activate your vision.
Find your leadership niche. My professional background prior to entering the legislature was in music teaching and performance. I was concerned that without a policy or government background it would likely be years before I would have the expertise or seniority to sponsor and lead legislation to address the many issues I cared about. Thankfully, I was wrong. As it happened, the legislative body in which I served was housed in a large and imposing chamber with antiquated equipment and practices, such that to speak on a bill a member had to walk to a microphone at the front of the chamber and address the entire body. There was no option to speak from the comfort of one’s chair.
While many of my colleagues had enough fear of public speaking to discourage them from speaking regularly, my performing arts background had given me years of practice at addressing and engaging an audience and I did so without qualms. As I spoke on all manner of issues that concerned me, I was soon approached by the leaders of many caucuses and coalitions who asked me to speak on behalf of their cause and things progressed quickly from there.
Discern who can provide trustworthy mentorship. Incorporate time for pointed observation of your colleagues in committee and on the floor of the chamber. It will become evident that various communication styles and mannerisms are received differently by those you are seeking to garner support from. Some members command attention from the audience and become the person that the undecideds on an issue look to for trustworthy information, and to refine eventual votes. On the other hand, others are unconvincing in delivery and manner and present an opportune time for a bathroom break or phone call. Try to emulate the former and take the opportunity to talk to and learn from them.
Focus on communication with your constituents. No matter how much of a policy whiz you may become, if your constituents do not hear about what you are working on, you may struggle to be re-elected. People vote for those they know and like, and with whom they have established a level of comfort and trust. This is why known entities, such as a popular coach or librarian, will often find electoral success despite a possible incoherence between their policy aims and the electorate.
Take advantage of all the communication methods available to you as a public official. Submit op-eds to the local papers, appear on local radio shows and at community events, produce a digital & print newsletter, and perhaps do sporadic door-knocking to touch base on a personal level.
Ask the right questions. There is an art to asking questions that extract important facts and data and also shed light on motivations and broader themes. For example, if there are concerns about how healthcare related legislation will affect a community, a general question in that regard is unlikely to be answered satisfactorily. Instead, ask a more constituent focused question that gives an example of a specific externality and how this legislation would change it. For example, you could ask “Will this raise healthcare premiums for citizens with private or employee-sponsored healthcare in southern NH?” In this manner, you will have a communicable outcome to share with your constituents when explaining your vote.
As an elected official your advocacy has the power to change lives, communities, and the trajectory of the state and country. So equip yourself with these tools to maximize your impact as a new legislator.