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Because I’m a nerd for politics, I like to quiz people: can you name your elected officials? It’s a harder question than it sounds. Everyone can name the president, and many can name some other high-profile national figures they recognize from the news. But I find that not many can name their own member of Congress, or their state senator or state representative, or even the mayor of their town. Yet these officeholders exercise vastly more influence over your business or your day-to-day life than those national figures who occupy so much of our attention. Could I suggest trying to change that?
At the state level, you can easily locate your elected officials online: visit house.mi.gov or senate.michigan.gov and enter your address to find your representative and senator. If you operate a business outside the home, try entering the address of each store location. You may have an “in” with more legislators than you think.
Once you’ve identified your elected officials, consider inviting them to your store for a tour or an event. MRA’s annual Capitol Day is an excellent way to build a relationship and raise industry-wide issues, but why not grow that relationship closer to home, too? Many legislators are regular people from the community who are curious about and supportive of what’s happening in their district. Don’t wait until April to make that initial introduction. You may find that your advocacy will have a greater impact.
On a wider scale, becoming familiar with your elected officials is good for civic health. When national news and social media emphasize partisan divides and cultivate a sense of pessimism, it can be refreshing to have a personal relationship—or even just a familiarity—with your elected officials. This is especially true when dealing with someone “across the aisle” from you.
National and statewide elections are only a year away. Before then—before the nonstop attack ads, before the campaign flyers fill your mailbox, before you’re asked to accept a caricature of “the other guy”—consider reaching out. A little goodwill goes a long way. Then you can start asking others: can you name your elected officials?
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