ISSUES AND POLICY
How to “Do Something”
Rather than gritting your teeth at the antics of government, follow this advice from 2 former Texas state representatives on how to have an infl uence and “do something” useful.
W By Ellen H. Brisendine HEN YOU HEAR THE PHRASE “SOMEBODY NEEDS TO
do something,” what comes to mind? I of- ten hear it on radio or television call-in talk
shows from listeners frustrated with the government. So, what can someone do when they want to do more than complain about government? What does “do something” mean? Two directors of Texas and Southwestern Cattle
Raisers Association (TSCRA) are former members of the Texas House of Representatives. It’s fair to say they’ve “done something” and they offer suggestions on some things regular folks can do to infl uence public policy.
Meet your politician Dan Gattis, Georgetown, served district 20 from
2002 to 2010, and Bennie Bock, New Braunfels, served then-district 46 from 1973 to 1983. Both agree that the fi rst useful action a citizen can take is to actually meet their elected leader, regardless of the level of offi ce. Gattis says, “The biggest thing that anybody can
do to infl uence public policy is to get to know those who actually represent you. We need to have a direct communication with them and it’s much easier to do than anybody thinks.” The easiest to meet are usually the local elected of-
fi cials. Members of U.S. Congress may be less accessible and state senators and representatives are probably in the middle of the continuum. Look for opportunities to meet elected leaders. Do
you attend the same church? Are you a member of local civic clubs? Are they coming to speak at a club meeting? Gattis says, “When the club meeting is adjourned,
walk up to them, thank them for being there, shake their hand and get their card.” After the event at which the elected leader spoke,
write them a note thanking him or her for the speech. Thank the leader for his or her service and then ask for “5 minutes for coffee the next week. I will tell you,” Gattis says, “There are not many of those people who are going to turn that invitation down.”
150 The Cattleman October 2016 Bock agrees, “If you go to
church with somebody in of- fi ce, get to know him or her more. How do you do that? You can call the person and say, ‘I don’t know you well, but I’d like to know about your concerns and how you view some of the things that are happening in the world today and in Texas.’” Gattis says elected leaders
will be likely to accept a short meeting because you vote and “they have to go through an election again. They need peo- ple in the community saying they did a good job and they are accessible.”
Keep up the contact After the short meeting
Bennie Bock, New Braunfels
with your elected leader, the next “something” to do is to keep up the contact. Build a relationship, provide support and make yourself a source of information for that elected leader. Gattis suggests following up the fi rst meeting with a
letter thanking him or her for taking the time to meet with you. When the elected leader has a fundraiser, send a donation. Any amount will be appreciated, Gattis says. “I got a lot of $25 and $50 contributions from my local people. They wrote the $25 check because that’s what they could afford. That contribution meant a lot more to me than many of the $1,000 or $5,000 contri- butions I received because it came from someone who wanted to show their support for me, not necessarily infl uence me.” Personal communication with elected leaders is
the best method, Gattis and Bock say. Gattis adds, “A letter that you have signed is more infl uential to me as an elected offi cial” than a form letter or form email.
MORE
thecattlemanmagazine.com
Dan Gattis, Georgetown
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