'Unlike the bulk of lobbyists at the Capitol, we don’t have connections to wealth or campaign contributions, and we’re not typically invited to high-dollar events that provide face time with elected officials.'
in the state, so Harnden’s strategy includes bringing impacted residents to the Capitol to share their lived experience and counterbalance claims from wealthy interest groups.
It's not just lawmakers themselves who benefit from visits from community members, it’s also their staff. Legislative staff are often the gateway to a legislator’s vote, or to the decision whether or not to carry a bill. Community action prompted Weber’s office to pursue AB 392 — an example of how community input can be a catalyst for lawmaking. DiMartino acknowledges that visiting a legislator’s office can be intimidating, but that shouldn’t be a deterrent, he said, because the most effective lobbying happens when people are themselves. “Just be authentic, know you’re not going to be perfect, staffers aren’t perfect, lawmakers aren’t perfect — we’re all humans.
At the heart of a healthy democracy is a reliance on community participation. DiMartino encourages people to take advantage of that: “A lot of people don’t know that when you see your member’s office, you can walk right in — you don’t even have to knock. Ask to see the member; if they’re not available, staff will meet with you. We get paid with tax dollars to serve our constituents.”
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