Oregon Coalition

of Local Health

Officials 2021 Legislative Toolkit

January 2021

OREGON COALITION OF LOCAL HEALTH

OFFICIALS: 2021 Legislative Toolkit

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Table of Contents

Introduction ................................................................................................................... 2

Oregon Legislature Background ................................................................................ 2

2021 House Membership.......................................................................................... 2 2021 Senate Membership ........................................................................................ 6 2021 Legislative Leadership ..................................................................................... 8 2021 Committee Membership ................................................................................ 9

CLHO’s Legislative Platform ....................................................................................... 12

Budget Request for Public Health Modernization .............................................. 12 Budget Request for Universally offered Home Visiting ...................................... 12 Tobacco Retail Licensure ...................................................................................... 12

Advocacy .................................................................................................................... 13

How to be Involved ................................................................................................ 13

How to Testify ........................................................................................................... 14 How to Lobby .......................................................................................................... 16 Lobbying Versus Education ................................................................................... 17 How to Write a Letter to the Editor ....................................................................... 19 How to Write an Op-Ed .......................................................................................... 21

Newspaper Submission Guidelines ...................................................................... 24

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Introduction The Oregon Coalition of Local Health Officials (CLHO) works with and on behalf

of the 33 local public health authorities in Oregon who work to protect the public’s health. CLHO created this legislative toolkit for local public health authorities to provide background information to their communities, state senators, and representatives on local public health issues. The toolkit is also designed to be used as a resource for those who are interested in advocating for the local public health system or for a particular public health issue.

Oregon Legislature Background

The Oregon Legislature meets annually for 35-day short sessions on even numbered years and 160-day regular sessions on odd numbered years. The legislature has 30 Senators and 60 Representatives. There are no term limits, and Senators serve four-year terms while Representatives serve two-year terms. Every

Oregonian is represented by one State Senator and one State Representative. The legislature is a “citizen’s assembly” which means most legislators have other jobs in addition to being a legislator. Bills can be introduced in either the Senate or the House, except for bills that

increase revenue which must be started in the House. All bills must flow through a committee before being voted on. The most powerful committee is the Joint Ways and Means committee which holds financial power. The following documents will help you identify your Senators and Representatives, Legislative Leadership, and Legislative Committee membership and meeting times.

2021 House Membership

District 1 – David Brock Smith (R) Port

Orford

District 2- Gary Leif (R) Roseburg

District 3- Lily Morgan (R) Grants Pass District 4- Duane Stark (R) Central Point

District 5- Pam Marsh (D) Ashland District 6- Kim Wallan (R) Medford

District 7- Cedric Hayden (R)

Roseburg

District 8- Paul Holvey (D) Eugene

District 9- Boomer Wright (R) Coos

Bay

District 10- David Gomberg (D) Central Coast

District 11- Marty Wilde (D) Eugene District 12-John Lively (D) Springfield

District 13- Nancy Nathanson (D)

Central Eugene

District 14- Julie Fahey (D) Northwest Eugene

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District 15- Shelly Boshart Davis (R)

Tangent

District 16- Dan Rayfield (D) Corvallis

District 17- Jami Cate (R) Stayton District 18- Rick Lewis (R) Silverton

District 19- Raquel Moore-Green (R)

Salem

District 20- Paul Evans (D) West Salem

District 21- Brian Clem (D) Central

Salem

District 22- Teresa Alonso Leon (D) Woodburn

District 23- Mike Nearman (R) Dallas District 24- Ron Noble (R) Yamhill

District 25- Bill Post (R) Newberg District 26- Courtney Neron (D) Sherwood

District 27- Sheri Schouten (D)

Beaverton

District 28- WInsey Campos (D) Aloha

District 29- Susan McLain (D) Forest

Grove

District 30- Janeen Sollman (D) Hillsboro

District 31- Brad Witt (D) St. Helens District 32- Suzanne Weber (R) Astoria

District 33- Maxine Dexter (D) NW

Portland

District 34- Ken Helm (D) North Beaverton

District 35- Dacia Grayber (D) Tigard District 36- Lisa Reynolds (D) SW Portland

District 37- Rachel Prusak (D) West

Linn

District 38- Andrea Salinas (D) Lake Oswego

District 39- Christine Drazan (R)

Oregon City

District 40- Mark Meek (D) Gladstone

District 41- Karin Power (D) Milwaukie District 42- Rob Nosse (D) SE Portland

District 43- Tawna Sanchez (D) North

Portland

District 44- Tina Kotek (D) N Portland

District 45- Barbara Smith Warner (D)

NE Portland

District 46- Khanh Pham (D) SE Portland

District 47- Andrea Valderrama (D)

NE Portland

District 48- Jeff Reardon (D) SE Portland

District 49- Zach Hudson (D)

Troutdale

District 50- Ricki Ruiz (D) S. Gresham

District 51- Janelle Bynum (D)

Clackamas

District 52- Anna Williams (D) Hood River

District 53- Jake Zika (R) Redmond District 54- Jason Kropf (D) Bend

District 55- Vikki Breese-Iverson (R)

LaPine

District 56- E. Werner Reschke (R) Klamath Falls

District 57- Greg Smith (R) Heppner District 58- Bobby Levy (R) Pendleton

District 59- Daniel Bonham (R) The

Dalles

District 60- Mark Owens (R) Ontario

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2021 Senate Membership

District 1 – Dallas Heard (R)

Roseburg

District 2- Art Robinson (R) Grants Pass

District 3- Jeff Golden (D) Ashland District 4- Floyd Prozanski (D) Eugene

District 5- Dick Anderson (R) Coos

Bay

District 6- Lee Beyer (D) Springfield

District 7- James Manning, Jr (D)

Eugene

District 8- Sara Gelser (D) Corvallis

District 9- Fred Girod (R) Stayton District 10- Deb Patterson (D) Salem

District 11- Peter Courtney (D) Salem District 12 - Brian Boquist (R) Dallas

District 13- Kim Thatcher (R) Keizer District 14- Kate Lieber (D) Beaverton

District 15- Chuck Riley (D) Hillsboro District 16- Betsy Johnson (D) Scappoose

District 17- Elizabeth Steiner

Hayward (D) Beaverton

District 18- Ginny Burdick (D) Portland

District 19- Rob Wagner (D) Tualatin District 20- Bill Kennemer (R) Canby

District 21- Kathleen Taylor (D)

Milwaukie

District 22- Lew Frederick (D) Portland

District 23- Michael Dembrow (D)

Portland

District 24- Kayse Jama (D) Portland

District 25- Chris Gorsek (D) Gresham District 26- Chuck Thomsen (R) Hood River

District 27- Tim Knopp (R) Bend District 28- Dennis Linthicum (R) Klamath Falls

District 29- Bill Hansell (R) Athena District 30- Lynn Findley (R) Ontario

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2021 Legislative Leadership

Democrat Leadership Team Senate President: Senator Peter Courtney, Salem Senate President Pro Tempore: Senator James Manning, Jr., Eugene Senate Majority Leader: Senator Rob Wagner, Portland Senate Majority Leader: Senator Sara Gelser, Corvallis

Senate Deputy Majority Leader: Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, Beaverton Senate Majority Whip: Senator Lew Frederick, Portland Senate Assistant Majority Leader: Senator Michael Dembrow, Portland Senate Assistant Majority Leader: Senator Chuck Kate Lieber, Beaverton Republican Leadership Team

Senate Minority Leader: Senator Fred Girod, Stayton Senate Republican Deputy Leader: Senator Chuck Thomsen, Hood River Senate Republican Assistant Leader: Lynn Findley, Vale Senate Republican Whip: Dennis Linthicum, Klamath Falls

Democrat Leadership Team Speaker of the House: Representative Tina Kotek, Portland Speaker Pro Tempore: Representative Paul Holvey, Eugene House Majority Leader: Representative Barbara Smith Warner, Portland House Majority Whip: Representative Andrea Salinas, Portland

House Majority Deputy Whip: Representative Julie Fahey, Eugene Assistant House Majority Leader: Representative Pam Marsh, Ashland Assistant House Majority Leader: Representative Rachel Prusak, West Linn Assistant House Majority Leader: Representative Janeen Sollman, Hillsboro Republican Leadership Team

House Republican Leader: Representative Christine Drazan (R-Oregon City) House Republican Deputy Leader: Representative Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) House Republican Whip Representative: Representative Duane Stark (R-Grants Pass) House Republican Assistant Whip: Kim Wallan (R-Medford)

House Republican Assistant Deputy: Representative Bill Post (R-Keizer) House Republican Assistant Leader: Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Albany) House Republican Assistant Leader: Representative Cedric Hayden (R-Roseburg) House Republican Assistant Leader: Representative Rick Lewis (R-Silverton)

Vice-Chair of Ways and Means, ex-officio member: Representative Greg Smith (R-Heppner)

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2021 Committee Membership

Senate Human Services, Mental Health and Recovery (Meeting Times: 3:15pm, Tuesday and Thursday)

Sen. Sara Gelser, Chair Sen. Dick Anderson, Vice Chair Sen. Kate Lieber Sen. Art Robinson Sen. Kathleen Taylor

Senate Health Care (Meeting Times: 1:00pm, Monday and Wednesday) Sen. Deb Patterson, Chair Sen. Tim Knopp, Vice Chair Sen. James Manning, Jr. Sen. Dallas Heard

Sen. Lee Beyer Senate Joint Ways & Means Committee (Senate Members) Sen. Betsy Johnson, Co-Chair Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, Co-Chair

Sen. Fred Girod, Co-Vice Chair Sen. Lew Frederick Sen. Chuck Thomsen Sen. Kathleen Taylor Sen. Tim Knopp Sen. Kate Lieber

Sen. Bill Hansell Sen. Chris Gorsek Sen. Dick Anderson Sen. Jeff Golden

Joint Ways & Means on Human Services Sub-Committee (Senate Members) Sen. Kate Lieber, Co-Chair Sen. Tim Knopp Sen. Sara Gelser

House Health Care Committee (Meeting Times: 3:15pm Tuesdays and Thursday) Rep. Rachel Prusak, Chair Rep. Cedric Hayden, Vice Chair Rep. Andrea Salinas, Vice Chair Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon Rep. Wlnsvey Campos

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Rep. Maxine Dexter Rep. Christine Drazan Rep. Raquel Moore-Green

Rep. Ron Noble Rep. Sheri Schouten House Health Care Subcommittee on COVID-19 (Meeting Times: 3:15pm Mondays and Wednesdays)

Rep. Maxine Dexter, Chair Rep. Cedric Hayden, Vice Chair Rep. Wlnsvey Campos Rep. Raquel Moore-Green Rep. Andrea Salinas

House Human Services Committee (Meeting Times: 3:15pm Mondays and Wednesdays) Rep. Anna Williams, Chair Rep. Gary Leif, Vice Chair Rep. Ricki Ruiz, Vice Chair

Rep. Ron Noble Rep. Mark Owens Rep. Tawna Sanchez Rep. Sheri Schouten

Housing Committee (Meeting Times: 8am Tuesdays and Thursdays) Rep. Julie Fahey, Chair Rep. Wlnsvey Campos, Vice Chair Rep. Lily Morgan, Vice Chair Rep. Pam Marsh

Rep. Mark Meek Rep. Courtney Neron Rep. Suzanne Weber Rep. Jack Zika

Joint Ways & Means Committee (House Members)

Rep. Dan Rayfield, Co-Chair Rep. David Gomberg, Co-Vice Chair Rep. Greg Smith, Co-Vice Chair Rep. Janelle Bynum Rep. Christine Drazan

Rep. Gary Leif Rep. Susan McLain Rep. Rob Nosse

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Rep. Tawna Sanchez Rep. Janeen Sollman Rep. Duane Stark

Ways and Means - Human Services Subcommittee (House Members) Rep. Rob Nosse, Co-Chair Rep. Wlnsvey Campos Rep. Cedric Hayden

Rep. Duane Stark Rep. Anna Williams

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CLHO’s Legislative Platform

The Coalition of Local Health Officials (CLHO) sets legislative priorities for each legislative session and actively works with members and public health partners to support strong public health policies for the state of Oregon. CLHO has three legislative priorities for the 2021 session. These priorities are

summarized below and are available as one-pagers on the CLHO website.

Budget Request for Public Health Modernization

Public Health Modernization ensures basic protections critical to the health of all in Oregon and future generations. CLHO supports a $68.9 million biennial

investment which will continue the great work started in communicable disease control, health equity, and assessment and will expand the work into environmental health threats and emergency preparedness. This will allow the local public health system to be ready to protect and serve all Oregonians.

A one-pager for this topic is available on the CLHO website.

Budget Request for Universally offered Home Visiting

Universally offered home visiting by a public health nurse promotes safe and healthy environments during early childhood. This creates the foundation for lifelong physical and mental well-being. 1, 2

Investing an additional $5 million for the biennium into Oregon's universally offered home visiting program, Family Connects, will continue the work started in 2019 by providing training and support to local partners. These partners can connect with all new parents giving Oregon families the support they need so all children can thrive.

A one-pager for this topic is available on the CLHO website.

Tobacco Retail Licensure

1 Duffee, J. H., Mendelsohn, A. L., Kuo, A. A., Legano, L. A., Earls, M. F., & Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. (2017). Early childhood home visiting. Pediatrics, 140(3). Retrieved from https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/140/3/e20172150.full.pdf 2 Dodge, K. A., Goodman, W. B., Murphy, R. A., O’Donnell, K., Sato, J., & Guptill, S. (2014). Implementation and randomized controlled trial evaluation of universal postnatal nurse home visiting. American Journal of Public Health, 104(S1), S136-S143. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4011097/

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A statewide TRL would require all retailers of tobacco products and e-cigarettes to become licensed, just like retailers of other age-restricted products. Without TRL, tobacco control policies are challenging to enforce.3

Data show that most tobacco use begins during a person’s teenage years.4-5 TRL allows for greater oversight and enforcement of tobacco control policies and protects young Oregonians, particularly BIPOC youth, from developing harmful habits. 3,6

A one-pager for this topic is available on the CLHO website.

Advocacy

How to be Involved

Find out what is happening in Salem

• Sign-up for your Legislator’s newsletter at www.oregonlegislature.com.

• Sign-up for Morgan’s “Update from Salem” weekly emails (request to be

added morgan@oregonclho.org)

Involve your Legislator in activities in-district

• Invite Legislators to tour your health department. Find your Legislator(s) at

https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-districts.html.

Participate in legislative activities in-district

• Attend a “virtual” District Town Hall meeting

• Testify at a Ways & Means budget roadshow hearing (Dates To Be

Determined)

3 Brossart, L., Moreland-Russell, S., Walsh, H., Wachtel, A., Andersen, S., Edison, L., Bach, L., Schell, S., Mohr, A., & Luke, D. (2014). Point-of-sale strategies: A tobacco control guide. Tobacco Control Legal Consortium. Retrieved from https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.wustl.edu/dist/e/1037/files/2004/11/CPHSS_TCLC_2014_PointofSaleStrategies1-2jps9wj.pdf 4 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Office on Smoking and Health. (2014). The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK179276/ 5 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Office on Smoking and Health. (2012). Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22876391/ 6 Henderson, T., Arana-Colen, C., & Jones, J. (2015). Tobacco retail licensing policy: A health equity impact assessment. Upstream Public Health. Retrieved from https://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/assets/external-sites/health-impact-project/upstream-2015-tobacco-licensing-report.pdf

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Participate in Salem legislative activities. This legislative session looks to be mostly virtual and while Marion County is still in the extreme risk category the Capitol building will be closed to the public. This “Salem legislative activities” have been

updated to reflect the virtual nature of the session.

• Schedule zoom or phone meetings with Legislators (Morgan will help

schedule times with your legislators)

• Testify (advocate or provide background information) on specific

legislation in a Health Policy Committee

• Testify at Ways and Means budget hearings

Participate in Lobby Day activities from groups of which you are a member

• Oregon Nurses Association Lobby Day – TBD

• Oregon Public Health Association - TBD

If you or health department staff are interested in one or more of these opportunities reach out to Morgan or Laura. They can help you determine the opportunities that would be the best fit.

How to Testify

Giving public testimony before a legislative committee can be an exciting and fulfilling experience if you are prepared. Your testimony may influence the committee’s action. It also becomes a part of the permanent record and may

be used in future research. Know your Audience The members of the committee are citizen legislators, meaning they have a full-time occupation outside of being a legislator. Legislators care and appreciate

that you have taken time out of your day to come and testify before them. Here are some things to remember as you address the committee:

• Be respectful.

• Do not accuse committee members of causing a particular problem.

• Resist the temptation to scold, put down, or insult the decision-makers or

other witnesses. This tactic will likely alienate them from the cause.

• Remember that all of these legislators are also people in your community

too.

• You can find out more about the committee you are testifying before

here: Oregon Legislative Committees Be Clear and Know the Issue It is important to be clear about your position and to back up your position with both data and experience.

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• Be clear if you are supporting/opposing a bill or if you are just providing

important background information.

• Support your opinions with as many facts and data as possible.

• Be knowledgeable of the other side of the story since you may be asked

to discuss the differences.

• Draw from your own knowledge and personal/professional experience

and incorporate these stories into your testimony (always ask permission first if you are telling someone else’s story).

• Be prepared to answer questions about the topic.

Be Familiar with the Committee Process The 2021 Legislative Session looks a little different this year due to COVID-19. The

Capitol Building will remain closed to the public for at least the beginning of the session (this will be reevaluated throughout the session). Members of the public are still welcome to testify verbally either through videoconferencing or by phone.

• To find out more about the process of registering and providing testimony,

review and follow the guidelines for COVID-19 operations posted on the Oregon State Legislature website.

• If possible, attend a committee meeting before you testify to become

familiar with the process and the technology.

• Agendas are posted online on the Committee Page. Check the agenda

to make sure the bill you are interested in has not been removed or rescheduled. Bills are not always heard in the order in which they appear on the agenda.

Presenting Your Testimony Have your testimony prepared ahead of time, and make sure to connect with

Morgan (morgan@oregonclho.org) if you are testifying on a CLHO legislative priority. When it comes time to testify, be sure to:

• Address members formally (e.g., Senator Jones, Representative Brown). Respond to questions through the chair (e.g., ‘Chair Jones and members

of the committee…’). • State your name, city or county, and any other affiliation for the record,

even if you’ve already been introduced or called upon by name. • Clearly state whether you support or oppose the bill and briefly explain

your reason.

• If you submitted written testimony, do not read it word-for-word to members. Make an outline and summarize the main points of the testimony.

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• Keep in mind that many people testifying or a busy agenda may require you to summarize your testimony in two minutes.

• Members realize that the process may be intimidating; they do not expect

perfect presentations. • Thank the committee members and offer to answer question. “Thank you

for the opportunity to testify before you today. I would be happy to answer questions.”

• When a member asks you a question, always acknowledge the chair first

and respond: “Chair ______, Senator/Representation ______, the answer to your question is…”

• Testifying as a group: Select a few people to cover different topics so the testimony is not repetitive. Address the problem, possible solutions, and your group’s solution. Check with committee staff to determine how much

time will be allotted for testimony on the bill. • Verbal testimony and written materials are public records available to the

public on the Internet. Use discretion on what personal information to include.

• Written testimony will be allowed for 24 hours AFTER the public hearing.

How to Lobby

Before the Meeting

• Be prepared with a specific issue. Practice your lobby visit in advance of

your actual meeting and stay on message.

• Verify what format you will be using to meet with your Legislator (phone,

videoconferencing software, etc.). Make sure you have all of the proper

technology and accounts set up ahead of time and that all software is up to date.

• Find the quietest place in your home/office for your meeting, and be ready

for your meeting early. Be understanding if your Legislator is behind schedule.

During the Meeting

• Use talking points and handouts to make your points as clear, concise, and

succinct as possible.

• Be yourself. Talk about why the issue is important to you personally. Use

personal experiences to strengthen your case.

• Identify a group leader. Select a person to lead the group but lobby as a

team. Give everyone in your group the opportunity to participate.

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• Be conversational. Avoid using shorthand terms, acronyms, or jargon that

might be unfamiliar to your audience.

• Listen to the Legislator’s responses, concerns, and questions. Respond to

questions as best you can, but if you aren’t sure, don’t guess or make

anything up. It is perfectly acceptable to need to follow up post-meeting to

get the Legislator’s questions answered.

• Keep things friendly and avoid party politics. CLHO is a non-partisan

organization and works with all Legislators, regardless of party affiliation.

• Make the ask. Tell the Legislator what you want them to do, and thank them

for considering your request.

• Relax and speak from the heart, even if the Legislators don’t say yes to

everything you ask.

After the Meeting

• Follow up. Be sure to work with community partners to address the

Legislator’s questions or requests for additional information.

• Send a thank you email for the meeting.

Lobbying Versus Education

Lobbying is a way people can play an active role in the government and is a

constitutional right for all Americans protected by the first amendment. Often government employees are intimidated by the thought of lobbying because they are not sure what they can and cannot do. See some of the questions below that local health officials commonly ask about lobbying. Each local jurisdiction also has its own restrictions, so be sure to check with your leadership

about your own ability to lobby. Lobbying activities in Oregon include:

• Direct lobbying (oral or written) of legislative official to influence or

attempt to influence legislation

• Direct lobbying of others to solicit their efforts to include or attempt to

influence legislation

• Attempting to gain the goodwill of legislators

Does federal law restrict me from lobbying?*

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There are federal restrictions on lobbying referred to as the Byrd Amendment. Generally, if a public employee is solely paid with federal funds they cannot lobby during work time. If they are paid partially with federal funds and partially

with other funds, they can potentially lobby using the other funds but should check with their supervisor and their funding guidelines. For more information about federal restrictions, visit the Government Accountability Office.

Does state law restrict me from lobbying?*

There are no state laws that restrict public employees from lobbying, but there are state restrictions on political campaigns and ballot initiatives. For more information, see Restrictions on Political Campaigning by Public Employees – ORS 260.432.

Does local law restrict me from lobbying?* Local jurisdiction restrictions vary about engaging with legislators. Check with your local jurisdiction leadership to learn if you need specific approval to engage with legislators. Don’t I need to register as a lobbyist?

In Oregon, every person, including public employees, must register as a lobbyist if they lobby more than 24 hours or spend more than $100 on a lobbying activity in a calendar quarter (ORS 199-010-0005). What can I do if I am prevented from direct lobbying?

If you can’t “lobby,” you can provide education. Education is impartial (like providing facts about disease rates) and cannot be for the purpose of attempting to influence legislation or opinions. For more examples of the differences between lobbying and education, see the box below.

Type of activity Education Example

Lobbying Example

Meeting Meeting with a representative to educate them about how public health funding is used.

Meeting with a representative to urge them to vote for a bill to provide funding for

your health department.

Preparing materials Creating a one pager showing specific activities in your health department.

Creating a one pager urging funding for specific activities in your health department.

Social media Tweeting vaccination reminders.

Tweeting an opinion on vaccination legislation.

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*Always check with your local jurisdiction’s restrictions about lobbying.

How to Write a Letter to the Editor

Letters to the editor are a great way to educate readers on an issue, affect

public opinion, and influence public officials’ positions and decisions. They also alert the editorial boards of newspapers that an issue is relevant to their

readership and merits coverage. A campaign of letters to the editor (letters sent from multiple sources addressing a single issue) can add energy and urgency to the call for increased attention to public health issues. 7, 8, 9, 10

1. Respond quickly. Letters to the editor are a response or a reaction to an article that appeared in that specific newspaper. They should be submitted

within 24 hours from when the article appeared in the paper.

2. Keep it short. Keep your letter to three paragraphs and 250 words or less. Check with your newspaper's editorial department on the specific word limits. Newspapers often edit the letters they receive, so keep your letter concise to ensure your important points won't be cut.

3. Cite the article. Reference the article you are responded to in your letter,

and include the headline and the date in the first or second sentence of your letter.

4. Start strong. Grab the reader’s and editor’s attention with a passionate/punchy opening sentence. Try to make your overall point clear from the very beginning.

5. Be clear. You only are allotted 250 words at most, so make ONE strong point.

Make sure your position and what you are asking readers/legislators to do is clear. Write in the first person and use an active voice. Avoid jargon and

7 American Lung Association. (2020). Letters to the editor. Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/policy-advocacy/take-action/letters-to-the-editor 8 Research America!. (2019). Sample letter to the editor. Retrieved from https://www.researchamerica.org/advocacy-action/how-be-advocate/sample-letter-editor 9 University of Kansas Center for Community Health and Development. (2020). Community tool box: Writing letters to the editor. Retrieved from https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/direct-action/letters-to-editor/main 10Wallack, L., Woodruff, K., Dorfman, L., & Diaz, I. (1999). News for a change: An advocate’s guide to working with the media. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.

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abbreviations that might confuse the reader.

6. Substantiate. Support your position with succinct facts. Provide the complete

reference for the facts as an addendum.

7. Stay Professional. Editors will review grammar and style, but make sure to only include statements you feel strongly about and can support. Stay away from vulgar, hostile, or divisive language.

8. Personalize. Write about your own experience and how the issue affects

people directly. Explain why you care about the issue and why the readers and editor should care.

9. Make it local. How does this issue affect the community?

10. Use your title. If possible, providing your title and the name of your workplace or institution can help to get a letter printed (always check with your organization first). If you are in a leadership position in your professional association, consider signing the letter with that title. Larger papers may wish

to confirm that you are indeed the signatory.

11. Submit it electronically. Most newspapers prefer e-mail submissions or faxes of letters to the editor. Check the paper’s website or call to confirm the preferred method of submission.

12. Include your complete contact information. Provide your name, day and

evening phone numbers, fax number, and e-mail address. Reporters must be able to reach you after 5:00pm.

Letter to the Editor Template

Use this template to help guide you in writing your letter to the editor. The order of this template can help you stay organized, and the prompts can help generate ideas.

Letters to the Editor

[Newspaper name]

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[Newspaper address, fax, or email]

Date

Dear Editor:

I was surprised/disappointed/excited to read [INSERT ARTICLE DATE AND HEADLINE] This is [timely/interesting/ironic] because

As a public health worker/parent/community member, my perspective is What people don’t realize is

One thing that could really make a difference is [INSERT YOUR ASK/NEXT STEP]

Sincerely,

[Signature]

[Your name, title, address, and phone number]

Template adapted from Wallack, Woodruff, Dorfman, and Diaz, 1999, p. 11711

How to Write an Op-Ed

Op-Eds (Opinion Editorial, formerly known as “opinions opposite the editorial page”) express the opinions of authors usually not associated with the publication. Op-Eds are longer than letters to the editor, typically 500-700 words in length. Similar to letters to the editor, Op-Eds educate and inspire readers and

can be excellent advocacy tools. Think strategically when considering your authorship of an Op-Ed. Consider all of your affiliations. Perhaps you should use your workplace title or your affiliation with a professional association. Consult your communications office or

11 Wallack, L., Woodruff, K., Dorfman, L., & Diaz, I. (1999). News for a change: An advocate’s guide to working with the media. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.

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professional association for permission to use any affiliations. Submitting it on behalf of your institution, facility, or organization may well increase the chances of publication. The tips below can help you write a successful Op-Ed. 12,13,14,15

1. Follow the specified guidelines. Read all of the rules for submitting an Op-Ed

for the newspaper (usually available on their website). If you do not follow guidelines, editors will not read your piece. Take note of the paper's policy on exclusivity if you plan to submit to more than one outlet. Some newspapers

may not accept an Op-Ed if it has already been submitted to another outlet.

2. Read the newspaper and check with the editor. Read some of the Op-Eds published in the newspaper to get a sense of style and to see if others are writing about the same topics. If there are similar pieces in recent issues, try to

make your Op-Ed as distinct as possible to increase your chances of the newspaper publishing it. It can also be helpful to call the editor to pitch your idea for an Op-Ed ahead of time.

3. Write Clearly. Use the active voice, and write in the first person. This will keep your readers engaged. Avoid jargon and abbreviations that might confuse

the reader as well as vulgar, hostile, or divisive language.

4. Use facts and imagery. Back up your points with facts. Use metaphors and social math to make the scope of the problem clear to all readers.

5. Make a single point. Make a single point clearly and persuasively. If you cannot explain your message in a sentence or two, you’re trying to cover too much. Use a key message to help make your point and to reiterate the work you have been/are doing in the community (If you plan to submit an Op-Ed on a CLHO priority issue, contact Morgan).

6. Start with a news angle or “peg”. Your piece must be newsworthy and timely.

Start your Op-Ed by referencing current or very recent news. If you can, cite the news/feature/editorial printed in that newspaper that your Op-Ed addresses. Paying close attention to events happening in your community and capitalizing on their newsworthiness is a great strategy to grab the

attention of the editor deciding what to publish. Link your piece to:

12 American Public Health Association. (n.d.). Write an op-ed. Retrieved from https://www.apha.org/-/media/files/pdf/advocacy/speak/oped_tips.ashx?la=en&hash=7AE125514FB0359A90ACE3068DD23DC08D2BAB51 13 Duke University. (2013). How to write an Op-Ed article. Retrieved from https://commskit.duke.edu/writing-media/writing-effective-op-eds/ 14 Hall, T. (2013). Op-Ed and you. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/opinion/op-ed-and-you.html 15 Wallack, L., Woodruff, K., Dorfman, L., & Diaz, I. (1999). News for a change: An advocate’s guide to working with the media. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.

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a. A specific health trends in your community b. A new study published c. Newly reported cases of an outbreak, disease, or injury

d. An anniversary of a public health landmark event e. Newly reported environmental risks in your community f. A newly released report card or ranking on local health conditions g. A major event that relates to your point (a mass vaccination event, a

protest/demonstration, etc.)

7. Tell a story. If it makes sense, use examples that come from your own

experience, the experience of families you work with, or others in your community (always ask for permission before using another person’s story). Tell how the experience made you feel and reveal your humanity.

8. Transition and make your case. Transition from the personal story to the

bigger picture. Tell readers why they should care. At the pinnacle of the story, make your strongest possible statement about the value and need for public health. Offer recommendations: identify the current opportunities, share the steps needed to achieve the goal, and indicate who should take these

steps. 9. Offer graphics. If you have a visual, illustration, photo, or another asset that

might accompany your Op-Ed, alert the editor when you send it.

10. Return to the story. Finish your piece by returning to the story and then end with a specific call to action or “ask”.

11. Include your complete contact information. Provide your name, day and

evening phone numbers, cell phone number, fax number, and e-mail

address. Reporters must be able to reach you after 5:00pm. 12. Stay in touch. After you submit the piece, wait 24 hours, and then call the

paper to confirm receipt. If you don’t hear anything further after another 2-3 days, call to see if the editor has made a decision.

13. Do not take it personally if the Op-Ed is not published. Look for another paper in your local area or state and submit the Op-Ed to it. Again, make sure you know the paper’s policy on exclusivity.

Writing an Op-Ed Piece

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Use the following questions to generate ideas for your Op-Ed. Once you have these general notes, start free-writing (writing without stopping to edit or revise) for several minutes to let your thoughts flow.

What subject do I want to discuss in my Op-Ed? What stories or examples could help illustrate this?

What policy solution am I recommending?

What are 1-2 key points that will convince people that this is the right solution? What compelling facts or statistics would help me make my point?

What metaphors, images, or social math might help reinforce the point?

Form adapted from Wallack, Woodruff, Dorfman, and Diaz, 1999, p. 11616

Newspaper Submission Guidelines Each newspaper has slightly different guidelines for submissions. Below are the

guidelines for some of the most widely circulated newspapers across Oregon. This is not a comprehensive list of all Oregon newspapers. Make sure to do your research and pick the newspaper that will reach your intended audience (for example, if the legislator or elected official you are trying to reach lives in Astoria, look into submission requirements for The Daily Astorian).

The Oregonian (Statewide) Submission Guidelines Submit a Letter to the Editor to:

• Email: letters@oregonian.com

• Word Limit: 250 words or fewer

16 Wallack, L., Woodruff, K., Dorfman, L., & Diaz, I. (1999). News for a change: An advocate’s guide to working with the media. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.

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• Include your full address and daytime phone number, for verification only.

Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Submit an Op-Ed to:

• Email: commentary@oregonian.com

• Word Limit: 500-600 words

• Submission should be in the body of the message (not attached)

Notes: They do not respond to every submission they receive, and calls to check on the status are strongly discouraged. Op-eds are most often rejected simply because of competition (they receive many submissions). They also could be

rejected due to length (shorter is better), being repetitive of previously published articles, lack universal interest, or are national issues instead of local issues. If a submission is accepted, authors will be called within a week.

East Oregonian (Umatilla and Morrow Counties) Submission Guidelines

Submit a Letter to the Editor to:

• East Oregonian online form

• 250 words or fewer

• Must provide name, address, phone, and email

There are no online instructions for submitting an Op-Ed. Contact the newspaper if you wish to submit an Op-Ed.

Register-Guard (Lane County) Submission Contact Info Submit a Letter to the Editor to:

• E-mail: rgletters@registerguard.com

• Word Limit: 200 words or fewer

• Include your full name, mailing address and phone number for purposes

of verification. If accepted, only your name and city will be published.

• Letters are edited for style, clarity and are fact checked. Please provide

any relevant links to your research.

• Letters should be exclusive to the R-G.

• Each writer may only publish one letter per 30 days.

Submit an Op-Ed (Called Guest Viewpoint) to:

• Email: bomeara@registerguard.com

• Word Limit: 525 words or 725 words, not in between.

• Include any relevant links to resources and research.

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• Include a short biography explaining who you are, what you do and

where you live. Authors also must provide an email address as part of their tagline.

• Writers may publish one guest view per 90 days.

Statesman-Journal (Mid-Willamette Valley – Marion and Polk Counties) Submission Guidelines

Submit a Letter to the Editor and/or an Op-Ed to:

• Email letters@StatesmanJournal.com or fill out the online submission form.

• Letter to the Editor Word Limit: 200 words or fewer

• Op-Ed (also called Guest Opinions) Word Limit: 500 words of fewer

• Preference given to original ideas about current local issues from local

authors (Marion and Polk counties).

• Don’t use a form letter from an organization.

• Emailed letters are preferred in body of the message (no PDFs).

• Authors can make one submission every 30 days

• Include your first and last name, street and mailing addresses, town, and

day and evening telephone numbers. The addresses and telephone numbers are for verifying the letters; we publish your name and town. We do not run anonymous letters, ones with inaccurate or incomplete names, or ones whose authorship we have been unable to verify.

• For Guest Opinions: If we publish your guest opinion, we will need a photo

of you and brief information about you and your relationship to the

subject being discussed. Also, include a publishable e-mail address or another way for readers to contact you. We allow up to two authors for guest opinions; we will need individual photos of each author.

Bend Bulletin (Bend)

Submission Guidelines

Submit a Letter to the Editor (also called “My Nickel’s Worth) and/or Op-Eds (also called Guest Columns) to:

• Email at letters@bendbulletin.com or fill out the online submission form.

• Letter to the Editor Word Limit: 250 words or fewer

• Op-Ed Word Limit: 550-650 words

• Submissions should be limited to one issue.

• Include the writer’s phone number and address for verification.

• Writers are limited to one letter or guest column every 30 days.

News-Review (Douglas County)

Letter to the Editor Guidelines and Op-Ed Guidelines

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Submit a Letter to the Editor to:

• The News-Review online form

• Word Limit: 300 words or fewer

• Include your full address and daytime phone number, for verification only.

• Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

• Letter writers are generally restricted to one letter every 14 days

Submit an Op-Ed (also called a “Guest Column”) to:

• The News-Review online form

• Word Limit: 800 words or fewer

• Guest Columns are best when on a subject the writer has particular

expertise or knowledge.

• The author should send along a photo and short biography.

Albany Democrat Herald (Albany) Submission Guidelines

Submit a Letter to the Editor (also called “The Mailbag”) to:

• Email to news@democratherald.com or fill out the online submission form.

• Word Limit: 250 words or fewer

• Letters must include a street address and daytime telephone number for

verification. Only the author's name and city are published.

• All letters are subject to editing, and writers are limited to one published

letter a month when letter volume is high.

There are no online instructions for submitting an Op-Ed. Contact the newspaper if you wish to submit an Op-Ed.

Gazette Times (Corvallis) Submission Guidelines Submit a Letter to the Editor (also called “The Mailbag”) to:

• Email to news@gazettetimes.com or fill out the online submission form.

• Word Limit: 250 words or fewer

• Letters must include a street address and daytime telephone number for

verification. Only the author's name and city are published.

• All letters are subject to editing, and writers are limited to one published

letter a month when letter volume is high. There are no online instructions for submitting an Op-Ed. Contact the newspaper

if you wish to submit an Op-Ed.

Mail Tribune (Southern Oregon) Submission Guidelines

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Submit a Letter to the Editor and/or an Op-Ed to:

• Email to letters@rosebudmedia.com

• Word Limit: 200 words or fewer (150 for election and thank-you letters)

• Must include the writer’s name, address, and phone number for

verification.

• All letters are subject to editing.

• Emailed letters receive priority.

Herald and News (Klamath and Lake County) Submission Guidelines Submit a Letter to the Editor to:

• Herald and News online form

• Word Limit: 310 words

There are no online instructions for submitting an Op-Ed. Contact the newspaper if you wish to submit an Op-Ed.

Daily Courier (Josephine County)

Submission Guidelines Submit a Letter to the Editor to:

• Daily Courier Online Form

• Word Limit: 250 words or fewer

• Please provide name, street address, and phone number. Street

addresses will not be published, except on request. Phone numbers are for verification only and will not be printed. If you do not have a phone, you must hand-deliver your letter to the news room of the newspaper office.

• To avoid confusion over people with common or similar names, writers

must provide a full name or middle initial and indicate the name they are known by.

• Letters may be edited for grammar, content and length.

• To give all readers a fair opportunity, writers are limited to one letter every

30 days.

There are no online instructions for submitting an Op-Ed. Contact the newspaper if you wish to submit an Op-Ed. The Argus Observer (Malheur County) Submission Guidelines

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Submit a Letter to the Editor to:

• Argus Observer Online Form

• Word Limit: 300 words or fewer

• Letters must include the writer’s address and telephone number included

so we can check for authenticity. Only the author’s name and city of residence will be published.

There are no online instructions for submitting an Op-Ed. Contact the newspaper

if you wish to submit an Op-Ed.