Contacting Your Representative A Beginner’s Guide to Civic Participation The Cedar City Peace and Justice Association DaKishia Reid

Goals Inform and empower participants to contact your state reps, and understand the value of contacting them regularly as a form of civic action and involvement. Explain to others how to contact their reps Brainstorm ideas of sustainability of service, share tips, and make connection i.e. personal challenge, calling-tree team, etc.

One of the main goals is to go from feeling . . . Like this,

To this.

Quick Review Source: http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/lesson_13_notes.htm

Utah’s Congressional Reps . . . We have 2 Senators Orrin Hatch (1977)* Mike Lee (2011) And 4 Congressmen Rob Bishop (since 2003)* Christ Stewart (2013)* Jason Chaffetz (2009)* Mia Love (2015)* Source: https://www.utah.gov/government/contactgov.html, https://ballotpedia.org/Main_Page

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch . . . We have 29 Utah State Senate members (4 year terms) and 75 State House members (2 year terms). Iron county is Senate district 28, House District 72. In Session for 45 days: Jan 29-March 9. Recent major legislature in the past years include air quality protection, LGBTQ anti-discrimination, and land use/accessibility. Check out what’s going on here. Senator Evan Vickers Representative Westwood Sources: http://senate.utah.gov/ , http://www.le.utah.gov/house2/index.html

Contacting your Reps: Why? Let’s talk about the idea of a democracy. January 2017, Office of Congressional Ethics Vote It’s in the name: They represent you. They also represent others. Contacting your Reps: How?

Calling Card US Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT)* US Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) 104 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-5251 196 E. Tabernacle, Rm 14 St. George, UT 84770 (435) 634-1795 Twitter: @SenOrrinHatch Email: http://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-orrin US Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) 361A Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-5444 285 W. Tabernacle, Suite 200 St. George, UT 84770 (435) 628-5514 Twitter: @SenMikeLee Email: https://www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact House Rep Chris Stewart (2nd Dist)* 323 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-9730 253 W. St. George Blvd. St. George, UT 84770 (435) 627-1500 Twitter: @RepChrisSterwart Email: https://stewart.house.gov/contact/email-me Utah Senator Evan Vickers (R-UT) 2166 N Cobble Creek Dr. Cedar City, UT 84721 (C) (435) 817-5565 (H) (435)586-4399 (435) 586-3473 Email: evickers@le.utah.gov Utah Rep John Westwood (R-UT) 350 North State, Suite 350 Salt Lake City, Utah 84114 (435) 590-1467 Email: jwestwood@le.utah.gov 2017 State Legislature session: Jan 29-March 9 http://le.utah.gov/~2017/2017.htm Mid-Term Election: Nov. 2018*

Pro Tips Congressional Office: Pick one topic per contact Interns Staff Assistant (who you’ll talk to first) Legislative Correspondent (who you’ll get a letter from) Legislative Advisors Senator Local Office: Same time zone Visit is easier Less calls, so this is a good place to get the opinion of the representative from receptionist. Pick one topic per contact Personalize your story Be polite and firm It is okay to contact a rep in regards to something you believe they’ve done well. Prepare a response should you be asked for a suggestion LEAVE YOUR ADDRESS/ZIP

Pros and Cons Visit Capable of having a conversation, asking questions, sharing how policy could effect you Bring your friends Most time and resource costly Limited time of Reps Call Great flexibility and accessibility Script or no is ultimately okay Invite staffers to your events! Full mailbox? Talking on the phone is uncomfortable for some Don’t forget your zip/address!!!! Mail Hand-written letters generally receive response (district office--State) Compose your thoughts Most responses will be generic, even as issue is recorded. Email/Tweet Easiest for many folks AMOUNT can be effective Not a high likelihood of response. A LOT of emails/tweets a day. Don’t forget your zip/address!!!

Review Contact your reps in a variety of ways Politeness is key. Also making sure they know you are a constituent (ADDRESS!!) So you don’t lose your mind, pick a few topics that you are passionate about. It will allow you to focus on them and be knowledgeable. Encourage others to engage.

Some light reading . . . This lady was a staffer for Rep. Stewart and Chaffetz for 6 years and shares what worked to reach her: http://www.attn.com/stories/12768/former-congressional-staffer-explains-how-to-make-congressman-listen Upcoming events in March: Real Women Run training (St. George) PJA Listen and Learn: Immigrants in Cedar City—March 1st Iron County Democrats meet 3rd Sat of month—Pastry Pub Iron County Republicans—http://ironcountygop.org/ Iron County Liberterians--https://www.facebook.com/Libertarian-Party-of-Iron-County-Utah-116235978564196/ Find (and add) more at https://cedarcitypeaceandjustice.org/ (Our Sweet website!)

More Resources ***A Special thank you to the many folks who contributed to this list! https://www.facebook.com/YourDailyAction/ One action a day- the call explains the action and then connects you to who the direction is meant to contact. http://votespotter.com/ Track your rep to see how they vote. https://medium.com/the-coffeelicious/how-to-stayoutraged-without-losing-your-mind-fc0c41aa68f3#.gu211i7dr Good tips for sustainable contribution to civic action. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FKXcRFOg5VS-UjCyH2jmgRTm-sQY_PB65Gxo-rwMT6A/edit Weekly Google doc you can subscribe to with ideas for weekly action.