talking with officials

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Talking with officials  

Let public officials and decision makers know what you think about an issue, policy or decision that is important to you. Ways to do this include:  

•  Sending an email or talking to them on the phone •  Connecting on Facebook or Twitter •  Meeting with public officials and policy makers •  Speaking at a public hearing •  Inviting public officials and decision makers to your school or organization  

Things to keep in mind 

• Know your target – do your homework to find out which level of government, which department, which policy or decision maker you need to talk with 

• Remember that you provide a valuable perspective that officials need to hear 

• Listen – to everyone in the room, especially  people you disagree with 

• Be open‐minded, respectful and polite – treat people as potential allies, not enemies 

• Build relationships – don’t only communicate to complain.  

• Think critically – connect what you hear with what you know 

• Think like a leader – how does this issue impact others? The future? What can I do to make things better for the most people? 

• Look for facts and figures – passion helps, but facts win and change opinions 

• Identify the intent – don’t like a policy? try to see where the official was going with the idea  

Communicating 

• Mention that you are a student – you can use this to your advantage 

• Ask questions and/or state your opinion 

• Get your facts straight 

• Make your comments short and to the point…focus on what’s important first 

• Offer suggestions and solutions 

• Ask for specific action 

• Relate to your personal experience 

• Use your own words 

• Don’t waste time on the obvious 

• Ask if you can help be a part of the solution 

• If you are speaking, be confident and clear…and smile 

• If you are writing, spell and punctuate correctly 

Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

LOCAL GOVERNMENT: WHO DOES WHAT Government  Services City of Charlotte  City Council (includes Mayor)  City Manager (interim) jburch@ci.charlotte.nc.us  www.charlottenc.gov   www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_City.pdf 

Community Health and Safety Police, Fire/Emergency Services, Animal Control, Water/Sewer, Garbage, Yard Waste, Recycling  

Transportation CATS, LYNX, Airport  

Infrastructure Build/maintain city streets, streetlights, sidewalks  

Planning and Development Land use, Zoning, Neighborhood Development, Economic Development/Jobs  

Towns: Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville  

Town Councils include mayors and town boards Each town has a manager  

www.cornelius.org    www.ci.davidson.nc.us  www.huntersville.org   www.matthewsnc.comwww.minthill.com            www.pinevillenc.net  Town presentations at http://generationnation.org/index.php/CLC/entry/local‐government‐who‐does‐what   

Services include Police, planning/zoning, garbage pickup, Fire/EMS, Parks/Rec/Cultural Arts, streets, sidewalks, stormwater 

Mecklenburg County  Board of County Commissioners  County Manager harry.jones@mecklenburgcountync.gov www.mecklenburgcountync.gov www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_Mecklenburg_Cty.pdf   

Community Health and Safety Health, Mental Health, Social Services, Courts, Jails, Child Support Enforcement  

Education and Economic Development Job training, Libraries, Funding for CMS, CPCC  

Growth and Environmental  Parks, greenways, Historic preservation, air, water and land quality  

County Government Operations Property, county taxes, Budgeting, Elections, Communications  

Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Board of Education Superintendent Heath Morrison superintendent@cms.k12.nc.us www.cms.k12.nc.us www.generationnation.org/documents/YouthCivics_CMS.pdf   

Education Public instruction and programs School operations School construction and buildings    

North Carolina General Assembly http://www.ncleg.net/gascripts/counties/counties.pl?County=Mecklenburg

Local impacts: Laws, school funding, policies, other 

Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

Charlotte City Council

Mayor Anthony Foxx mayor@charlottenc.gov704‐336‐2241  

Mayor Pro‐Tem At‐Large Patrick Cannon councilmancannon@gmail.com704‐336‐7400  Mayor Pro‐Tem=leads council if Mayor’s away At‐Large=represents entire city 

At‐Large Claire Fallon cfallon@charlottenc.gov 704‐336‐6105  At‐Large=represents entire city 

At‐Large David Howard info@davidhowardclt.com 704‐336‐4099  At‐Large=represents entire city 

At‐Large Beth Pickering bpickering@charlottenc.gov 704‐336‐5285  At‐Large=represents entire city 

More about City of Charlotte government: http://www.slideshare.net/kidsvotingclt/youth‐civics‐city

Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

 District 1 Patsy Kinsey pkinsey@charlottenc.gov 704‐376‐5367  Central, East and Northeast Charlotte areas 

District 2 James Mitchell JamesDistrict2@aol.com704‐509‐9593  NW and North Charlotte areas 

District 3 LaWana Mayfield councilwomanmayfield@gmail.com 704‐890‐5449  West and SW Charlotte areas  District 4 Michael Barnes barnesdistrict4@aol.com 704‐509‐6141  NE Charlotte, UNCC areas 

District 5 John Autry jautry@charlottenc.gov  704‐336‐2777  East Charlotte areas  District 6 Andy Dulin adulin@charlottenc.gov 704‐968‐8776  South Charlotte/Southpark areas  District 7 Warren Cooksey warren@warrencooksey.com 704‐347‐0420  South Charlotte/1‐485 areas 

Approximate representation areas listed. View map for more specific locations http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/CityCouncil/Districts/Documents/09AllDistricts.pdf

Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

 Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) 

 Pat Cotham Chair At‐Large  704‐336‐3866 patricia.cotham@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov  At‐Large=represents entire county  

Kim Ratliff Vice‐Chair At‐Large  704‐336‐2641  kim.ratliff@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov   Vice‐Chair=leads BOCC if Chair is away At‐Large=represents entire county 

Trevor Fuller At Large 

704‐724‐5831 trevor.fuller@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

  At‐Large=represents entire county 

  More about Mecklenburg County government: http://www.slideshare.net/kidsvotingclt/youth‐civics‐meck

Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

 District 1 Karen Bentley 704‐432‐3997     karen.bentley@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov   North Mecklenburg areas including Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, University City and Mt Island  

 District 2 Vilma Leake 704‐336‐2088    vilma.leake@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov   West and SW Charlotte and Mecklenburg 

 District 3 George Dunlap 704‐336‐4419    george.dunlap@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov North, Northeast and downtown Charlotte  

 District 4 Dumont Clarke 704‐331‐1051 dumontclarke@mvalaw.com   East Charlotte 

 District 5 Matthew Ridenhour   matthew.ridenhour@meckleburgcountync.gov    South Charlotte (north of highway 51) including Southpark area 

 District 6 Bill James 704‐336‐2573     Wjames@carolina.rr.com South Charlotte/Mecklenburg (south of highway 51) including Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Ballantyne 

 Approximate representation areas listed. View map for more specific locations

http://maps.co.mecklenburg.nc.us/website/emapper/default.htm?action=showpolygons&layer=county

Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

 Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education (School Board) 

 Mary McCray Chair At‐Large  704‐281‐6074 maryt.mccray@cms.k12.nc.us   At‐Large=represents entire county 

Tim Morgan Vice‐Chair At Large 

704‐577‐3102 tim.morgan@cms.k12.nc.us  At‐Large=represents entire county Vice‐Chair=leads if Chair’s away    

 Ericka Ellis‐Stewart At‐Large 704‐412‐8565 ericka.ellis‐stewart@cms.k12.nc.us At‐Large=represents entire county 

  More about Charlotte‐Mecklenburg Schools and Board of Education http://www.slideshare.net/kidsvotingclt/youth‐6178117 

Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

 District 1 Rhonda Lennon 704‐564‐3382 rhonda.lennon@cms.k12.nc.us   North Mecklenburg including Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Univ. City,  Mt Island   District 2 Richard McElrath 704‐488‐5360 richard.mcelrath@cms.k12.nc.us West and SW Charlotte and Mecklenburg 

 District 3 Joyce Waddell 704‐549‐4777 joyce.waddell@cms.k12.nc.us  North, Northeast and downtown Charlotte  

 District 4 Tom Tate 704‐502‐3093 tom.tate@cms.k12.nc.us East Charlotte 

 District 5 Eric Davis 704‐651‐0217ericc.davis@cms.k12.nc.us  South Charlotte (north of highway 51) including Southpark area   

District 6 Amelia Stinson‐Wesley 704‐889‐1803 a.stinson‐wesley@cms.k12.nc.us  South Charlotte/Mecklenburg (south of highway 51) including Matthews, Mint Hill, Pineville, Ballantyne   

Approximate representation areas listed. View list of schools by school board district (click on district #1-6)

http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/boe/Pages/District1.aspx

Visit GenerationNation’s Learning Center for links, info, activities and more: www.generationnation.org

 Town of Mint Hill Mayor and Board of Commissioners 

 Ted Biggers Mayor   

Lloyd Austin Mayor Pro‐Tem   

Carl M. (Mickey) Ellington Commissioner 

Brenda McRae Commissioner 

 Katrina (Tina) Ross Commissioner 

Contact information: http://www.minthill.com/Directory.aspx?DID=13More information: http://www.slideshare.net/kidsvotingclt/youthcivicsminthill