Register
More People Who Will Support Environmental Candidates
As the existing pool of undecided voters shrinks and as the number
of our opponents increases, it has become imperative that we register
more people who will support the environment. However, more than just
registering people, we will cultivate their interest in voting through
voter education projects and other forms of targeted contact from
the ILCV.
Support
Pro-Environment Candidates to the Entire Ticket in Swing and Base Counties
Through wise targeting we will develop comprehensive election programs
for the entire state. Through running entire tickets statewide, we can
elect more pro-environment candidates up and down the ticket than ever
before.
Create
a Real Farm Team
Too often our opponents in swing districts get a pass on a mayoral race
or a county board seat or any number of local offices. We must do the
work to find candidates to run in as many districts as possible. Further,
we must identify those candidates who hold our core pro-environment beliefs
so we can run these candidates for higher office in the future.
Involve
Green Business
ILCV is working smart and coming up with innovative ways to align
the interests of green industries and environmental activists to elect
candidates that will ensure the growth of green business and products
and improve our economy, health and security. The ILCV will work closely
with wind, solar and other renewable energy industries as well as
green buildings, manufacturers and others.
Political
Agenda
In 2006, ILCV will target 2-3 state legislative seats and will build
on our success in future even numbered years by getting involved in
more races. In odd numbered years, the ILCV will target municipal
elections in cities within the following year's targeted state legislative
seats in the aforementioned counties.
Relationship with Illinois Policy Environmental Groups
ILCV will incorporate the environmental community of Illinois into
the process by utilizing the Illinois Environmental Council Scorecard
to help target its endorsement process. Also, the ILCV will work with
local environmental groups to help in the endorsement process when
ILCV is interested in an election in their membership area. For example,
if the ILCV is interested in a race in McHenry County, ILCV will seek
the input of the McHenry Defenders in the endorsement process.
Media
The ILCV will use the media to communicate with voters. Through regular
letters to the editor, bi-weekly press releases, and meetings with
editorial boards, we will reach out to the general public.
Grassroots
Organization
By signing up volunteers at community events, hosting activist meetings,
and networking together separate volunteer bases in the same community,
we will grow our base of volunteers and activists. Also, organization-building
efforts will continually reach out to county parties, labor organizations
and other activist groups that are concerned about electing pro-environment
candidates. We will maintain the grassroots organization through bi-weekly
email newsletters.
The ILCV
will engage the grassroots organization through holding precinct
captain potlucks and other entertainment activities for volunteers.
Also, we will expand volunteer interest in pro-environment elected
officials by holding meet-and-greet events and receptions with
elected officials up and down the ticket; from the Governor and
US Senators to state representatives, state senators, county supervisors,
mayors etc.
Finally, we
will hold volunteer trainings to improve the performance of precinct
captains, volunteer organizers and volunteers. We will also continually
update and streamline all volunteer databases with close attention
to particular skills, interests and preferred tasks of volunteers.
We will
work to combat domination of local media by our opponents through
activating grassroots media teams that will call into talk radio
programs and write letters to the editor of the local print
media. The ILCV will organize grassroots rapid response teams
to our opponents on three levels. First, we will recruit and organize
mid to high-level elected officials who will deliver responses
crafted by the ILCV to our opponents. Second, we will organize a "grass-tops"
committee for each region made up of local opinion leaders and high-level
activists. Finally, we will activate grassroots media strategy
to disseminate responses crafted by the ILCV to local media outlets.
Enhanced
GOTV Tactics
Illinois is known for running the one of the most sophisticated Get
Out The Vote programs in the nation. However more can be done to maximize
output. With greater attention to voting history, earlier targeting
of base areas and a more systemic use of precinct captains and/or
paid canvassers we can more effectively increase the performance of
sporadic voting citizens who are concerned about the environment.
We would capitalize
on our well trained and vast volunteer base to run more comprehensive
GOTV operations in base as well swing and low performance areas. Further,
with a well-trained and expansive volunteer operation, we will be more
sophisticated in how we engage different demographic groups and regions
such as nursing homes, colleges, rural areas and urban.
