Take the Next Step
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. You know your local issues. Make the case for Kael to local voters.
10 Quick Tips
• Check the guidelines for submission and allotted word count.
• Focus on one topic. If you have more than one topic to cover, write another letter.
• Be yourself. LttE in your own voice and words are the most powerful.
• Timeliness matters. When responding to an article or story, do it right away.
• Get right to the point. Focus on what’s most important.
• Be specific. Cite your sources.
• If you have special expertise or knowledge of the issue, include that in your letter.
• Personalize the issue. How does this impact real people (including you)?
• End with a call to action: what do you want readers to do after reading your letter?
• Be professional. Follow the submission guidelines and include your contact information.
If you’re stuck and don’t know how to begin, try one of these templates:
• State your topic. Make relevant points, include backup statistics if you have them, then finish with a personal note (ie why is this important to you or how does it impact you?)
• Use a current event, news story, or recent speech/social media post/email from a politician as a jumping off point (include a link) and respond to it.
• Tell a very short (2-3 sentence) personal anecdote, highlight the issue in your story, then explain why it’s important on a broader scale.
• Use a historical event or anniversary as context to comment about a current event.
Want More Tricks?
Use their words. When writing about a politician or candidate, check out your subjects website and include the language they use to make your point. Here’s a couple examples from Indivisible (but remember these can be positive statements as well):
“Congresswoman Sara prides herself on being an independent voice that’s above the fray in Washington. But so far this year, she’s been a rubber stamp across the board…”
“Congresswoman Sara ran for office as a fiscally-responsible conservative. That’s why it’s ironic that she’s considering voting for this bill, which ___.”
Check their voting record and public statements. Check the “Issues” section of their website and then look at their voting record at Five Thirty-Eight, Govtrack, or On the Issues.
Point out the disconnect between their priorities and actions and what their constituents want. Or, point out consistency. Use current news stories, polls, other races etc. to bolster your argument.
A politician or political candidate’s entire political career is on record and up for discussion. Don’t be afraid to use past remarks or votes to add to your argument.
Record a Video
Record a message or endorsement, and we will share your message.
1. Think about what you want to say. You might want to include one or more of the following:
• Are you a new voter? Republican? Libertarian? Unaffiliated? Lifelong Democrat?
• Where do you live?
• What do you do?
• Why do you support Kael? What brought you to Team Weston?
• What are your hopes or fears for the future?
• End with a call to action. What do you hope viewers will do after watching your video?
2. Record your video
• Keep it under 2 minutes if possible.
• Make sure the light and sound are good
3. Upload your video to Dropbox (you don’t need a Dropbox account) https://www.dropbox.com/request/SgeZ2fd8CfRUEHcboGIE then email your permission to teamweston@kaelweston.com
Example: I, [insert your name], give the Weston for Utah campaign permission to use the video I recorded and submitted on [insert the date].