Public Involvement and the Early Education Campaign: Washington State Case Studies
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Public Involvement and the Early Education Campaign: Washington State Case Studies Transportation Choices Andrew Austin, Field Director [email protected] 253- 732-9434
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Public Involvement and the Early Education Campaign: Washington State Case Studies. Transportation Choices Andrew Austin, Field Director [email protected] 253-732-9434. Local Reality: Transit Revenue Campaigns in Washington. We’ve passed 15 of 19 measures in the last 4 years. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Public Involvement and the Early Education Campaign: Washington State Case Studies
Public Involvement and the Early
Education Campaign:
Washington State Case StudiesTransportation Choices
Andrew Austin, Field [email protected] 253-732-
9434
Local Reality:Transit Revenue Campaigns
in Washington
We’ve passed 15 of 19 measures in the last 4
yearsExamples: Mass Transit Now
(Sound Transit) 2008 57% to 43%
Island Transit 2009 Passed 56% to 44%
Valley Transit 2010 Passed 75% to 25%
Jefferson Transit 2010 Passed
C-Tran, Vancouver, WA Passed 56% to 44% in November 2011
A Tale of Two Measures Pierce Transit “Save Our Buses” measure fails in
February 2011 with a 46% to 54% margin. Bus service has been cut by 40%, buses stop running at 10pm.
C-Tran “Preserve our Buses” measure passes in Clark County by a 56% to 44% measure.
Both in predominately suburban communities Both were approximately $100,000 campaigns
that had almost identical field plans (approx. 10,000 voter contact calls made)
Same political consultant and level of involvement from Transportation Choices staff and resources
Two Very Different Outcomes
Two Very Different Outcomes
Why Pierce Lost and C-Tran Won
Organized opposition including the local paper that didn’t exist in Vancouver
Tighter campaign timeline with Feb. election in Pierce.
Slightly worse electorate in Pierce
Pre-campaign plan work, education, and polling
Setting yourself up for success: Pre-campaign to
do’sPolling is crucial! Combine polling results with direct
elected/board member lobbying to craft a winning package. (If we didn’t do this we probably would have lost in Vancouver)
If polling says you can’t win, don’t do it, reassess and find alternatives
Other than package shaping, using polling to craft your message and tone.
Pre-campaign Targets Transit agency staff and board: Craft
a package that can win. Top target coalition partners and
funders (i.e. ATU & Chamber): Ideally everyone feels bought into the decision going forward and was listened to throughout the process.
The general public/voters. Craft media stories, LTEs, social media, blogs, etc. covering decision to go to ballot in a way that aligns with future campaign messaging.
Setting up a big win! The Right Ask The Right Message An Existing and United Campaign
Committee from day -1.
Questions/Contact?Andrew [email protected]@transpochoices@transitdude
