Influencing County Government

By Rod Mann, Utah County Auditor

You have more influence than you realize. Here are some tips that can increase your ability to affect county commission decisions:

Become Informed

Develop an understanding of all sides of the issue. This will help you better defend your point of view and be more  understanding of those who don’t agree with you. Sources of information include

• Commission agendas and minutes
• Commission meeting videos
• Annual county financial reports
• Adopted county budget documents
• State Auditor’s transparency site where you can find information on government entities (i.e. cities and counties) spending,

Develop Your Message

• Be clear and concise. Focus on the most relevant points and keep your communication succinct. 
  

• If you draft a position paper or put together a PPT be sure the information on it is correct. When there are inaccuracies in your information your credibility becomes suspect. Sometimes even one incorrect item is enough to discredit your point of view.  
  

• As you develop your message, be kind and stay away from personal attacks. Here are some bits of wisdom from Dale Carnegie, Alexander Hamilton, and Aesop:

  • “Criticism is futile because it puts a person on the defensive and usually makes him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a person’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses resentment.”—Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People,  1937
    
  • “So numerous indeed and so powerful are the causes which serve to give a false bias to the judgment, that we, upon many occasions, see wise and good men on the wrong as well as on the right side of questions of the first magnitude to society. …  A further reason for caution, in this respect, might be drawn from the reflection that we are not always sure that those who advocate the truth are influenced by purer principles than their antagonists. … Were there not even these inducements to moderation, nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant spirit which has, at all times, characterized political parties. For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword.”—Alexander Hamilton, Federalist #1 (starts in the middle of paragraph 4), 27 Oct 1787
    
  • See also the Aesop Fable, “The North Wind and the Sun.”

Communicate Your Message

• You are more likely to influence the commission’s decision if you engage before the final commission meeting on an issue. Some issues are discussed at multiple commission meetings or in work sessions. By the time the vote is taken opinions are generally fairly settled. The odds of swinging votes at the last second are pretty low. 
  
• Contact one or more members of the commission to get their perspective and share your thoughts. Note, the phone numbers and email addresses for commission members are on the county website. If a topic is complex and hard to explain it is often best to meet in person or call to get more clarity. Face-to-face meetings also help to develop a personal relationship which may be of benefit on future issues.
  
• A brief, well-crafted letter is more likely to be read than a lengthy one. If sending an email, include your message directly in the body rather than as an attachment. This makes it easier for recipients to read and respond, particularly on mobile devices.
  Often a short text message is more effective than a longer email.
  
• Express gratitude for the commissioner's time regardless of the “productivity” of the interaction. Saying thank you is good for everyone (see my ChatGPT conversation on gratitude). Also, if the commissioner doesn’t end up supporting your position there will likely be other issues in the future that you’ll need help on.

Follow-up

Be sure to follow-up after the issue is “closed:”

• A thank you note is always appropriate. 
  
• Express your willingness to help with next steps. Generally, there is always more that can or needs to be done. If you are involved you can have a positive influence on the future, even if the initial outcome wasn’t what you wanted.

Additional thoughts

Take a few minutes each week to review commission agendas to see if there is anything on the agenda that is of interest or concern. They are usually posted on the county website no later than a day prior to a commission meeting. These are currently held on Wednesday at 2 PM. Utah State law requires that they be posted 24 hour before the meeting – see the state’s public meeting website for access to agenda and minutes of all government entities). You can ask to be notified by email when agendas and minutes are posted for commission meetings and the board meetings of various committees.

By staying informed, engaging early, fostering relationships, and communicating respectfully, you can effectively influence commission decisions and contribute to meaningful change in your county.

Questions? Contact:

Rod Mann | rodm@utahcounty.gov | 801-851-8124 | auditor.utahcounty.gov