Writing Letters to Public Officials
Guidelines and Alternate Phrases
Identify your effectiveness by describing yourself as a voter, taxpayer, campaign contributor, senior executive of a large company, writer, or individual with other connections to make your voice heard.
As the president of Melton Inc., I am concerned for the well-being of our 40,000 employees.
As you may have read in my recent interview with the Boston Globe, I am opposed to….
We became acquainted with your staff in our recent campaign work in Texas last fall.
Address only one subject or issue in the letter.
Identify the legislation by a bill number unless it has been widely publicized by a particular name.
Describe the action you want and why.
I encourage you to support this issue with your upcoming vote and in your campaign speeches. Passage of this bill will only lead to a….
We would like to see you sponsor such a bill in order to….
I urge you to vote for the proposed delay.
Add weight—explain your expertise.
I would like to include your comments in an upcoming speech I will be making to the Gippart Club on September 5.
Our 28,000 employees and their families all over the U.S. are extremely concerned about the added burden this will place on their children’s financial future.
As a personnel director who is well aware of various compensation packages offered by major corporations across the nation, I have seen the direct effects these incentives have on employees.
My associates and I will be conducting a door-to-door campaign in the next two weeks informing our neighbors and friends about the upcoming legislation and the various positions their representatives hold. We want to include statements regarding your position. Will you clarify to us whether you are opposed to this bill?
Ask for a reply if you want one.
I’ll appreciate a response about your position on this important legislation.
Would you let me know what you are doing to combat this waste of public funds?
Will you clarify your position on this issue?
How do you plan to vote on this bill?
On the bottom of this letter, would you add your reply about how you plan to vote on this bill?
Give praise, if due, for past action.
I appreciate the support you have given to similar legislation, such as S123456.
Thank you for your willingness to be vocal about the harmful effects of such chemical spills.
Thank you for bringing this out of committee in a most timely way. If I can be of further help in getting it through the House, let me know.
Thank you for your help. You can count on my support in your upcoming bid for re-election.
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