How To Lobby Alaska State Government
by Thomas, Clive
416 p., 5.5 x 8
Format: Paper and electronic
Price: $24.95
2019
Lobbying is about getting the right
message to the right people in the right
form at the right time. Even the most
persuasive arguments or most influential
groups will come up short if they
aren’t combined with personal connections
and an understanding of human
nature. How to Lobby Alaska State Government
is a guide to the essentials of organizing
and implementing a lobbying
campaign in Alaska that recognizes
how you lobby is as important as who
you lobby.
This book starts by helping new
lobbyists to think politically, by explaining
the structure and operation
of state government, the psychology
and needs of public officials, and where
the power lies in Juneau—who’s got
political clout. It then moves into the
nitty-gritty of a lobbying campaign,
covering the basics of group influence,
campaign planning and management,
the pros and cons of various group tactics,
tips on face-to-face meetings, and
the challenges of lobbying day to day.
In addition to extensive guidance on
what to do, this book also emphasizes
the things to avoid that will undermine
or eliminate a lobbyist’s chances of success.
Pragmatic and portable, this book
will be valuable to new and professional
lobbyists both, and anyone looking for
fresh perspectives on this important
business.
Clive S. Thomas is a senior fellow at the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and
Public Service at Washington State University. He spent thirty years in Alaska teaching politics
and consulting for many lobby groups. Thomas is the author of Alaska Politics and Public
Policy: The Dynamics of Beliefs, Institutions, Personalities, and Power, also published by
the University of Alaska Press.