The Art and Value of Community-Based Advocacy
Community-based Advocacy & Networking
Maine's town meeting tradition and "Citizen Legislature" make for a political culture that encourages citizens to engage in the legislative process – not only in Augusta, but at the community and grassroots level as well.
When working to influence legislation in Augusta, many organizations and businesses hire a State House lobbyist who knows the legislative process and can communicate effectively with legislators and other decision-makers about the impact of a bill or public policy initiative on the state, communities, commercial sectors, or specific populations.
But sometimes that's not enough: Whether a business or non-profit organization, success at the State House depends in great part on persuading decision-makers and legislators that your program, issue, or proposal is of value, importance, and urgency to their constituents, not just lobbyists or special interests.
That's particularly true in Maine, where we don't have professional politicians in our Capitol but a part-time citizen legislature of 186 Maine people who put the interests of their communities first and look to their constituents for guidance on issues of the day. Among the thousands of bills lawmakers must study and debate each year, those issues and positions on which a legislator's own constituents can speak passionately and persuasively have the greatest likelihood of success.
