What YOU can do to make county issues a priority in 2008

As the field of candidates begins to narrow, it is more important than ever for county officials to be part of the campaign. NACo needs you to attend events and speak to the candidates about issues that matter to counties. Together, we can encourage the candidates to restore the county-federal partnership and find out where they stand on issues like rural development, infrastructure, emergency preparedness and health care.

In the days leading up to the primary, here are a few things you can do to help make the 2008 Presidential Election Project a success:

1) Attend events. Sign up with the campaigns to receive email alerts when they’re coming to your area. As we get closer to the Primaries and the calendar is more compressed, the campaigns begin to set their events only 48-72 hours in advance. By being on the email list, you’ll be the first to know when they’re in your County. You can also find a daily listing of presidential events at www.nacoblog.blogspot.com.

2) Join the Restore the Partnership Campaign. We have brochures and buttons for any of your interaction with the presidential candidates or their staff. To request materials, please contact Kim Rogers at krogers@naco.org.

3) Endorse. And let us know! Several of your fellow county officials have endorsed. You can fill out the NACo Survey at www.naco.org/presidential.

4) Volunteer! This shows the campaign that county officials are active and gives you an opportunity to build valuable relationships.

5) Run for Delegate. If you are already supporting a candidate, talk to their staff about being on the slate. If not, you can still work with your local party. For details on delegate selection, contact Kim Rogers at (202) 942-4237.

6) Blog. You can contribute to NACo’s Blog and post on blogs around the internet community. This is a great way to educate the public about county issues and increase awareness. The blog is located at www.nacoblog.blogspot.com

7) Reach out to your fellow county officials. Encourage them to participate. Let them know if you’re supporting a candidate and why. This is a great way to build support for the Election Project as well as your chosen candidate.

8) Serve as a County Expert for the campaigns. Several campaigns have asked NACo to connect them to county officials who can comment on policy matters ranging from rural development to health care to urban infrastructure. Let Kim Rogers know if you are willing to serve on our “Experts Committee” and what issue you would like to be contacted about.

For more information on the project, you can contact Kim Rogers at (202) 942-4237 or email krogers@naco.org.