How does Advocacy in the local Leagues work?

Local Leagues often advocate for issues in their communities, and when the issue or policy is confined within their region, that League follows their own advocacy/approval processes. However, if the issue or policy covers more than one local League, or requires advocacy with state officials, then the action must be coordinated with the LWVWA—and likely with the LWVWA Lobby Team—to ensure the League is speaking with one voice and its advocacy is supported by our positions. To help us apply this to real life situations, we can look at two different examples of advocacy with LWV Bellingham/Whatcom County (LWVBWC) and LWV Snohomish County (LWVSC).

In an example of necessary coordination between a local League and the LWVWA, the LWVBWC advocated for safe and clean Puget Sound shorelines in their region when the Department of Ecology was considering rule making to cap liability for spills in the Puget Sound. The LWVBWC joined a coalition opposing the proposed liability cap because the rationale was based on outdated economic considerations. Local and state governments would bear the cost of cleanup above the cap and any funding from the federal government. Because this was a state-level policy, The LWVBWC needed to coordinate with the LWVWA to ensure our state positions enabled us to advocate to increase the liability cap. Together, we determined that our positions validated our advocacy.  

However, when the LWVSC advocates for the forests in their county—most recently to preserve mature, carbon-dense, structurally complex, state-managed forests subject to potential harvest for revenue—they are working with the Snohomish County Council to identify tracts of particular value for their environmental benefit, then request the Board of Natural Resources to withdraw them from consideration. Because the LWVSC is working with their county government (it is the county that makes the formal request), they are free to advocate compliant with their own policies. Thousands of acres of similar forests exist in many Washington counties, so this opportunity is available in other counties and regions as well.  

Many more advocacy efforts are underway in local Leagues around the state, and the League maintains positions on many issues related to democracy and self-governance. The LWVWA Lobby Team is available as a resource to local Leagues to help determine if their local advocacy is covered by our positions—or if higher level coordination is needed. Contact Martin Gibbins for consultations and help planning, or with questions and concerns for your local advocacy.