Photo by David Musolf / Madison Audubon
Before you call or write your legislator, I thought some background on the nature of legislators might be helpful.
I spent my professional life working for, working with, and always closely observing legislators at the state and local levels. For most of those years and historically, every legislator's fundamental impulse was to say yes—as in getting something done for his or her district, some organization or business, or a constituent. Creating a new program or expanding one was a favorite pursuit. That could make winning support for the Stewardship Fund (SF) easier if you could show a legislator how the program would help her or his district—a city or village, for example, might need land or development funds for a new park. The biology for some legislators has changed in recent years. For a few, the fundamental impulse is to say no, often to long-lasting programs. New or expanded funding is usually a target, not a goal, for such legislators. These folks are almost always very conservative Republicans. They will be skeptical of a program such as SF that has been around for years and is financed with borrowing in the form of long term bonds.
A key trait of almost any legislator is the willingness, the desire, to talk with constituents. Often a legislator really enjoys being around and conversing with folks from the district. Most are more comfortable meeting with constituents in the district, rather than Madison. In those conversations, a legislator will try to say something to convince the constituent(s) that he or she agrees with them. Legislators welcome communications from constituents. They most highly value a communication in the form of a letter or email that seems authentic and individual. Legislators certainly notice the campaigns in which many constituents send nearly identical phone calls, letters, postcards, or emails but they discount those to a degree. They are not sure how deeply felt widespread those concerns and communications are.
In my opinion, here are the implications for convincing your legislator to support Stewardship.
Topf’s Top 4 Tips for Advocating with Legislators
1. Communicate directly and personally. The Gathering Waters’ individualized postcard program is a good starting point. Follow up with a letter or email in which you briefly describe why Stewardship is important to you and why he or she should support it. Specifically request that support, thank her or him for their consideration, and ask for a reply. Citing a current or future Stewardship project in the district will strengthen your request.
Photo by Tony Abate / Madison Audubon
2. Hard to do these days but talking with the legislator in the district and, even better, on the site of Stewardship activity in the district is the best option. Some conservation organizations will try to arrange such meetings as spring arrives before the votes on Stewardship occur. I'm guessing those will occur in June—that seems like a long time away but, as with all big issues, legislators are mulling stances and options and discussing those with colleagues. If you can safely participate in such an event, please strongly consider doing so. If in late April or May, we're returning to something like normal and you see your legislator around town, please make the Stewardship plea politely and briefly.
Photo by David Musolf / Madison Audubon
3. Press without being rude and weigh what you hear very carefully. In the best of worlds you'll hear, "yes, I'll vote to renew and fund Stewardship.” But the world hasn't been at its best lately. Be a bit wary of what you hear; never, ever assume you've heard yes until you hear an direct, unequivocal yes. Years ago when the Dane County Board was considering an expensive conservation purchase on the Ice Age Trail, a happy and excited supporter called to say his Supervisor on the Board had said he supported the purchase. That local legislator had actually said he was a huge supporter of the Trail and would never vote to hurt it. Uh oh, I thought, that's trouble. The Supervisor voted against the purchase. So, if you hear something like, "I'm all for conservation" or "the Stewardship Program has done a lot of good" or "we have a great park system and I want to keep it that way," politely and briefly reply that it's important to renew Stewardship now.
Photo by Emily Meier / Madison Audubon
4. What if you have one of the really skeptical, conservative Republicans described above? Try anyway by emphasizing the most meaningful, personal connection you have to the Stewardship Program.
Don't be discouraged by this task. We won an extension of Stewardship last biennium pre-COVID. That pandemic sent huge waves of folks out to our public lands and intensified Wisconsin's residents' appreciation of their beauty, vitality, and accessibility.
Will Rogers reminds us of why renewing Stewardship is so important now: "Buy land. They ain't making any more of it." Besides COVID showing us how important it is for most of us to get outside on beautiful public land, population growth in many parts of Wisconsin is increasing. A land rush is on. As I've reviewed recent Dane County Zoning agendas, I've never seen as many re-zoning applications for the purpose of selling rural land for residential development. We need more land for outdoor recreation and habitat. The DNR, local governments, and conservation organizations need Stewardship to address that need.
The easiest way to find out who your legislator is and her or his contact information is Google "Contact Information for WI Legislature"—that provides convenient links to the Legislative Hotline and other ways of reaching your legislator.
With wind chills below zero and snow piling up, now might be a good time to think about Stewardship and contacting your legislator. Madison Audubon would sure appreciate you doing so.
Thanks,
Topf Wells, Madison Audubon board member and advocacy committee chair
